;-NRLF 


3152  DEEDS  OF  VALOR.  How 
America's  Heroes  Won  the  Medal  of 
Honor.  Personal  Reminiscences  and  Rec 
ords  of  Officers  and  Enlisted  Men  who 
were  awarded  the.  Congressional  Medal 
of  Honor  for  most '  conspicuous  acts  of 
bravery  in  battle,  combined  with  an 
abridged  History  of  Our  Country's  Wars 
(including  War  in  Philippines).  Compiled 
by  W.  F.  Bayer  and  O.  F.  Keydel.  Intro 
duction  by  Gen,  H.  M.  Duffield.  32 
colored  page  plates.  245  engravings  and 
hundreds  of  portraits.  2  vols.  4to.  cloth, 
gilt.  1,114  pp.  Detroit,  1901.  ($10.00  net.) 
Fine  copy.  $5.00 


' 


»> 


DEEDS  OF  VALOR 


HOW  AMERICA'S  HEROES  WON  THE 

MEDAL  OF  HONOR 


PERSONAL   REMINISCENCES   AND    RECORDS   OF   OFFICERS   AND  ENLISTED  MEN  WHO  WERE 
AWARDED  THE  CONGRESSIONAL  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  FOR  MOST  CONSPICU 
OUS  ACTS  OF  BRAVERY  IN  BATTLE. 

COMBINED    WITH 

AN  ABRIDGED   HISTORY  OF  OUR  COUNTRY'S  WARS. 


COMPILERS 

WALTER  F.  BEYER  AND  OSCAR  F.  KEYDEL 

INTRODUCTION  BY 
BRIG.-GKN'L.  H.  M.  DUFFIpLD,  U.  S.  V. 


3Uustrateb 


COMPLETE  IN  Two  VOLUMES 


VOLUME    I. 


DETROIT,  MICHIGAN,   U.  S.  A. 

THE    PERRIEN  -  KEYDEL   COMPANY 

1901 


V 


THE    PERRIEN-KEYDEL    CO., 

DETROIT,  MICH.,  U    S.  A. 
COPYRIGHT,  1900  &  1901,  BY  JOSEPH  PERRIEN. 


Sim  it's  must  no/  be  reprinted  without  special  permission. 


THE  CONGRESSIONAL 

MEDAL    OF    HONOR 


THE     ARMY 


EXTRACT  FROM  REGULATIONS   RELATIVE  TO 
THE  MEDAL  OF  HONOR. 

BY  DIRECTION  of  the  President,  the  following  regu 
lations  are  promulgated  respecting  the  award  of 
Medals  of  Honor: 

Medals  of  Honor  authorized  by  the  Act  of  Congress 
approved  March  8,  1863,  are  awarded  to  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  in  the  name  of  the  Congress,  for  particular 
deeds  of  most  distinguished  gallantry  in  action. 

In  order  that  the  Congressional  Medal  of  Honor 
may  be  deserved,  service  must  have  been  performed  in 
action  of  such  a  conspicuous  character  as  to  clearly  dis 
tinguish  the  man  for  gallantry  and  intrepidity  above  his 
comrades  —  service  that  involved  extreme  jeopardy  of 
life  or  the  performance  of  extraordinarily  hazardous  duty. 
Recommendations  for  the  decoration  will  be  judged 
by  this  standard  of  extraordinary  merit,  and  incontestible 
proof  of  performance  of  the  service  will  be  exacted. 

Soldiers  of    the  Union  have    ever    displayed   brav 


ery  in  battle,  else 
victories  could  not 
have  been  gained; 
but  as  courage 
and  self-sacrifice 
are  the  character 
istics  of  every  true 
soldier,sucha  badge 
of  distinction  as  the 
Congressional  Medal  is  not  to  be  expected  as  the  reward 
of  conduct  that  does  not  clearly  distinguish  the  soldier 
above  other  men,  whose  bravery  and  gallantry  have  been 
proved  in  battle.  *  *  * 

Recommendations  for  medals  on  account  of  service 
rendered  subsequent  to  January  1,  1890,  will  be  made 
by  the  commanding  officer  at  the  time  of  the  action  or 
by  an  officer  or  soldier  having  personal  cognizance  of  the 
act  for  which  the  badge  of  honor  is  claimed,  and  the 
recommendation  will  embrace  a  detailed  recital  of  all 
the  facts  and  circumstances.  Certificates  of  officers  or 
the  affidavits  of  enlisted  men  who  were  eyewitnesses  of 
the  act  will  also  be  submitted  if  practicable. 

In  cases  that  may  arise  for  service  performed  here 
after,  recommendations  for  award  of  medals  must  be  for 
warded  within  one  year  after  the  performance  of  the  act 
for  which  the  award  is  claimed.  Commanding  officers 
will  thoroughly  investigate  all  cases  of  recommendations 
for  Congressional  Medals  arising  in  their  commands,  and 
indorse  their  opinion  upon  the  papers,  which  will  be  for 
warded  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  Army  through 
regular  channels. 


THE    ISfAVY 


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NTRQDUCTION 


the  progress  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  July,  1862,  and 
March,  1803,  Congress  provided   by  joint  resolution  for  Medals 
of  Honor  for  most  distinguished  gallantry  in  action.      Under  the 
regulations  of  the  War  Department  pursuant  to  these  joint  resolutions  it 
is  provided  that  every  soldier  and  sailor  in   the  service  of  the  United  States, 
who,  outside  of  the  strict  line  of  his  duty  and  beyond  the  orders  of  his  superiors, 
performed  an  act  of  conspicuous  bravery  of  advantage  to  the  service,  should  be 
rewarded  by  receiving  a  "  Medal  of  Honor,"  specially  struck  for  that  purpose, 
on  satisfactory  proof  being  presented  of  the  circumstances  of  the  act.      From  the 
beginning  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  to  the  opening  of  the  war  with  Spain,  only 
about  1 .400  of  these  medals  were  granted,  including  all  those  given  for  services  in  the 
Indian  Wars  which  intervened.      For  services  in  the  Spanish  War,  only  26  medals 

were  awarded.  When  it  is  considered  that  nearly  two  millions  of  men  served  in  these  wars,  and  that 
their  course  was  marked  with  innumerable  gallant  actions,  the  signal  merit  of  the  actions  which 
earned  the  medals  and  the  care  with  which  the  proof  was  scrutinized,  may  be  better  appreciated. 
Mere  recklessness  of  danger,  when  duty  is  to  be  performed  or  orders  obeyed,  is  a  common  attribute 
of  all  American  soldiers,  and  those  who  received  the  Medal  of  Honor  were  doubtless,  in  many  cases, 
more  fortunate  in  opportunity  rather  than  braver  of  heart  than  their  comrades  ^  yet  the  fact  that  less 
than  1,400  out  of  two  millions  wear  this  badge  of  heroism  marks  the  wearers  as  soldiers  of  extraordi 
nary  merit  and  heroism. 

The  official  record  of  these  stories  of  heroic  deeds  in  the  service  of  the  Republic  is  of  the  most 
meager  character,  a  mere  line,  with  the  name  of  the  individual,  his  company  and  regiment,  and  a 
brief  phrase  designating  the  character  of  his  achievement,  without  any  of  the  details  which  would  give 
it  life  and  dramatic  interest.  It  scarcely  rises  above  the  form  of  a  tabular  statement.  As  time  passed, 
the  heroes  of  these  deeds  were  rapidly  disappearing  from  the  stage  of  life,  and  soon  all  recollection 
of  the  essential  features  of  their  achievements,  would  be  buried  in  the  graves  of  those  who  performed 
and  witnessed  them.  The  design  of  this  work  was  to  gather  these  details  together,  verified  by  the 
medal  bearers,  their  superior  officers,  or  other  witnesses,  and  present  them  to  the  American  public  in 
a  form  worthy  of  the  subject. 

The  work  has  been  by  no  means  an  easy  one.  It  involved  several  years  of  arduous  pursuit  by  the 
compilers,  voluminous  correspondence  and  exhaustive  search  ;  but  it  has  been  accomplished  with  a 
degree  of  completeness  which  was  hardly  to  be  expected.  The  compilers  have  had  the  advantage  of 
the  zealous  assistance  of  every  officer  of  the  army  to  whom  they  applied,  access  to  the  official  reports 
of  the  War  Department,  and  written  reports  of  the  incidents  from  the  medal  holders  themselves.  So 
far  therefore,  as  historical  accuracy  is  concerned,  there  is  little  apology  to  be  made  for  the  work.  As 
to  its  literary  merit,  it  may  be  said  that  much  of  it  is  in  the  simple  and  modest  language  of  the  heroes 
themselves,  who  have  minimized  their  own  merits,  and  taken  from  their  narratives  much  of  the 


ma-t'lc-'infc&re'st'  which  ••a1  disinterested  witness  would  have  found  in  the  deeds  they  performed.  Many 
of  the  incidents,  on  the  other  hand,  have  been  related  by  officers  who  were  witnesses  of  the  deeds  of 
their  subordinates,  and  who  had  the  literary  skill  to  mark  and  describe  them  in  the  manner  they 
deserved,  but  without  exaggeration  or  embellisluiient. 

The  editing  of  the  work  was  committed  to  competent  hands,  whose  chief  purpose  was  to  eliminate 
crudities,  and  to  avoid  extravagant  expressions  to  which  such  a  work  was  easily  liable.  Whatsoever 
may  be  its  demerits,  its  publishers  may  at  least  fairly  claim  that  it  is  a  truthful  and  modest  narration 
of  the  most  heroic  personal  achievements  of  our  soldiers  during  the  past  half  century,  verified  by  com 
petent  officers,  and  sustained  by  proofs  which  have  been  accepted  by  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  as  evidence  of  the  facts  which  deserved  the  distinguishing  acknowledgment  of  the  Medal 
of  Honor. 


Brigadier-General,  U.  5.  Volunteers 


COMPILERS'   PREFACE 


THE  pages  of  our  country's  history  abound  with  instances  of  the  most  lofty  courage,  which  thrill 
the  pulse  and  kindle  the  spirit  of  every  true  patriot.  Congress  itself  has  singled  out  many 
of  these  instances  and  given  them  special  recognition.  It  has  provided  for  a  medal,  known 
as  the  "  Medal  of  Honor."  It  is  the  nation's  grateful  acknowledgment  of  a  great  and  heroic  deed, 
a  reward  for  such  gallant  services  in  action  as  make  him  who  renders  them  conspicuous  among 
his  comrades. 

The  heart  beats  faster  and  the  blood  courses  through  the  veins  more  rapidly,  as  one  reads  these 
simple  stories  published  in  the  heroes'  own  modest  words.  These  narrations  speak  for  themselves. 
Editorial  embellishment  could  only  detract  from  their  value. 

The  footnotes  which  accompany  the  several  descriptions  are  intended  to  give  a  brief  review  of 
the  historic  events  to  which  they  refer.  In  this  manner  the  reader  will  obtain  an  abridged  history  of 
our  several  wars,  including  the  campaign  in  the  Philippine  Islands,  illuminated  by  the  thrilling  acts 
of  the  nation's  heroes.  t 

To  the  contributors  of  the  narrations,  and  all  who  have  assisted  in  this  task,  and  especially  to 
General  Lewellyn  G.  Estes  and  Captain  James  R.  Durham,  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  His  Excellency, 
Hazen  S.  Pingree,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  the  compilers  feel  themselves  deeply  indebted. 

The  compilers  submit  this  work  for  the  approval  of  the  American  people,  hoping  that  their  effort 
to  preserve  these  heroic  episodes  in  a  permanent  and  worthy  form,  before  all  recollection  of  them 
has  passed  away,  will  not  have  been  in  vain,  and  that  the  result  will  be  a  monument  to  remind  gen 
eration  after  generation  of  Americans  of  the  heroism  of  their  fathers. 


—  3  — 


SAVING  THE  COLORS 


T 


HE  first   act,  in  order  of 
time,  for  which  a  Medal 
of  Honor  was  awarded,  was 
that  of  Corporal  J  ohn  C.  Hesse 
and  Sergeant-Major  Joseph 
K.  Wilson.    At  the  outbreak 
of  the  rebellion  the  headquar 
ters  of  the   Eighth  IT.  S.  In 
fantry  were  at  San  Antonio,  Texas. 
On   the   23d  of  April,  1861,  the  post 
was  seized,  and    the   officers  and   a   few 
enlisted    men,  at    the   time    present    at    San 
Antonio,  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  rebel  troops, 
under  command  of  Colonel  Van  Dorn.     The  prisoners 
were  at  once  released   and  were   permitted  to  go  North 
as  best  they  could. 

"A  few  days  subsequent  to  the  capture,"  said  John  C. 
Hesse,  "upon  going  to  the  former  office  of  the  regimental 
headquarters,  the  building  being  then  in  possession  and 
under  control  of  the  rebels,  I  met  Lieutenant  Hartz  and 
Sergeant-Major  Joseph  Wilson.  Our  regimental  colors 
were  in  the  office,  and  Lieutenant  Hartz  said,  '  Hesse,  sup 
pose  you  and  Wilson  go  in  there,  take  the  colors  from 
the  staff,  conceal  them  about  your  clothing,  and  try  to 
carry  them  off.'  Wilson  and  I  went  in;  I  took  the  torn 
colors,  which  the  regiment  had  carried  through  the 
Mexican  War,  put  them  around  my  body  under  my 
shirt  and  blouse,  and  passed  out  of  the  building,  which 
was  strongly  guarded  by  the  rebels.  Fortunately,  they  did  not  suspect  what  a 
precious  load  we  carried  with  us.  We  later  put  the  colors  in  one  of  Lieutenant 
Hartz's  trunks,  and  left  San  Antonio  the  next  day  for  the  North.  We  arrived 
in  Washington  on  the  20th  of  May,  and  turned  the  flag  over  to  the  regiment." 


JOHN  C. 
HESSE, 

Corporal, 

Co.  A,  8th  U.S. 

Infantry. 


The  War  of  the  Rebellion  opened  with  several  small  actions,  such  as  the  storming  of  Fort  Sum- 
ter,  the  seizure  of  forts  and  navy  yards  by  the  Confederates,  several  skirmishes  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  principally  those  which  were  fought  with  the  object  of  securing  control  of  the  States,  which 
were  divided  upon  the  question  of  secession,  and  the  abandonment  of  forts  in  the  Southern  States  by 
U.  S.  troops. 


—  4 


- 


A  HERO  OF  THREE  BRAVE  DEEDS 


WALTER  JAMIESON, 
Sergeant,  139th  X.  Y.  S.  V. 
Highest  rank  attained : 

Lieutenant. 
Born  at  Boulogne,  France,  1842. 


IN  JUNE,  1861.  Lieutenant,  then  Sergeant  Jamieson, 
first  distinguished  himself  as  a  soldier.  It  was  at 
Arlington  Heights,  Va.,  and  in  reference  to  the  deed 
he  says :  "  We  had  a  drove  of  forty  head  of  cattle 
in  camp,  and  the  rebels  managed  to  get  them  away 
one  night.  The  officers  and  men  were  furious  at 
the  loss,  because  beef  was  needed  to  properly  pre 
pare  the  men  for  the  work  in  the  trenches.  A  de 
tail  was  ordered  out  from  each  regiment  of  cavalry 
and  infantry  present.  I  was  one  of  the  detail  of 
the  Twenty-eighth.  We  marched  past  Bailey's  cross 
roads  on  the  Fairfax  Courthouse  road,  deploying 
and  scattering  through  the  woods  in  search  of  the 
missing  cattle,  but  without  success.  Late  in  the  afternoon  we  were  recalled 
and  ordered  to  return  to  camp. 

"I  made  up  my  mind  to  find  those  cattle,  so  T  stole  away  alone,  expecting 
to  return  to  camp  during  the  night.  About  sundown  1  found  the  missing 
cattle  hidden  in  a  ravine,  and  started  to  drive  them  to  camp.  A  man  who 
had  charge  of  them  came  rushing  up.  Seeing  my  gray  militia  uniform,  he  mis 
took  me  for  a  Confederate  and  yelled  out :  '  You  damn  fool,  don't  you  know  that 
the  Yankee  cavalry  is  out  after  these  cattle  ?  Keep  'em  here  until  night.'  By  this 
time  he  had  come  up  to  me,  so  I  brought  my  rifle  down  on  him,  and  told  him 
I  was  one  of  those  'Damned  Yankees':  that  I  was  sorry  to  have  come  across 
him,  but  as  the  affair  stood  he  would  have  to  help  me  drive  the  cattle  into 
camp.  The  arguments  I  used  were  strong  and  convincing  and  he  agreed. 

"The  two  of  us  brought  the  cattle  in  before  daybreak,  but  at  one  time  my 
success  looked  dubious  in  the  extreme.  I  stumbled  over  a  stump,  had  a  bad 
fall  and  my  gun  landed  several  feet  away  from  me.  The  rebel  got  to  it  first, 
but  I  was  upon  him  before  he  could  straighten  up.  We  had  a  little  tussle, 
during  which  my  early  training  in  boxing  served  me  well,  and  I  frightened  him 
so  that  he  tried  no  more  tricks  on  me  during  the  remainder  of  the  trip.  We 
reached  Bailey's  crossroads  and  the  outside  pickets  before  daybreak  in  safety. 
The  sight  of  the  cattle  was  countersign  enough,  and  we  passed  all  the  pickets. 
I  took  the  rebel  to  the  guardhouse  and  reached  my  own  tent  just  as  reveille 
sounded  at  headquarters." 

From  June  1  to  July  20,  1861,  there  were  frequent  skirmishes  and  engagements  in  Virginia,  West 
Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Missouri,  in  which  the  advantage  was  in  favor  of  the  Federals.  At  none  of  the 
engagements  during  this  period  did  the  opposing  forces  exceed  4,000. 


LIEUTENANT  JAMIESON'S  second  conspicuous  act  of  bravery  is  related  as  fol 
lows:  "On  the  29th  of  July,  1864,  we  occupied  the  entrenchments  on  the  right 
of  the  line  of  works  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  our  brigade  resting  on  the 
bank  of  the  Appomattox  River.  The  fighting  during  the  night  had  been  severe 
and  the  intense  heat  of  the  previous  day  had  not  abated  when  morning  came. 


RECAPTURING  A  DROVE  OF  CATTLE 


"After  swallowing  my  coffee  and  hard-tack,  I  took  my  rifle  and  went  to  my 
lookout  hole  to  see  how  the  field  appeared  by  daylight.  It  looked  far  worse 
than  the  day  before,  most  of  the  wounded  had  died.  The  body  of  the  captain 
that  T  had  so  often  looked  at  regretfully  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  What  could 
have  happened  to  him,  I  wondered.  I  was  sure  he  could  not  have  been  carried 
away,  for  we  had  watched  the  field  too  closely  by  the  musketry  flashes  for  that 
to  be  accomplished.  During  the  forenoon  some  of  our  men  made  him  out,  over 
near  the  other  side,  and,  sure  enough,  he  was  alive,  lying  on  his  back,  fanning 


himself  with  a  rebel  hat — a  black  one  with  a  very  broad  rim.  Some  rebels 
had  gotten  to  him  during  the  night  and  swapped  hats. 

''The  heat  was  terrible,  but  the  firing  on  both  sides  never  ceased.  Towards 
evening  it  was  reported  that  we  were  to  be  relieved  as  soon  it  grew  dark.  As 
I  gazed  at  the  poor  captain,  my  feelings  got  the  better  of  me,  and  I  made  up 
my  mind  not  to  let  the  poor  fellow  die  there  in  agony.  As  the  evening  closed 
in,  my  resolution  to  save  him  grewT  more  fixed.  I  wanted  it  to  be  just  dusk, 
but  not  so  dark  that  the  men  could  not  see  the  loopholes  of  the  enemy  and 
make  it  dangerous  for  any  one  to  look  through. 

"So  I  studied  the  gloaming.  I  got  an  empty  cracker  box,  stood  it  on  end 
against  the  breastworks  and,  climbing  upon  it,  told  the  men  to  throw  it  over 
after  me.  Then  out  I  sprang,  headforemost,  with  such  force  that  I  landed 
away  out  on  the  abatis  among  the  dead,  where  I  tried  to  appear  as  one  whose 
last  fight  is  fought.  I  kept  quiet  for  some  minutes,  and  saw  that  my  comrades, 
whom  I  had  left,  were  getting  to  work  in  earnest  and  firing  rapidly,  which 
would  keep  the  enemy  from  the  loopholes.  This  gave  me  fresh  courage,  and  I 
started  to  crawl  along  the  ground,  pushing  the  dead  bodies  so  as  to  cover  my 
movements  on  my  return. 

"  When  I  reached  the  spot  where  the  captain  lay,  I  could  feel  the  concus 
sion  of  the  rebel  guns  upon  my  face.  I  lay  alongside  of  him  and  whispered  to 
him  to  roll  upon  my  back.  With  my  load  I  started  to  crawl  towards  our  lines, 
making  a  few  inches  with  each  effort,  until  I  reached  the  abatis.  I  could  not 
pull  him  through,  and  asked  some  one  to  lend  me  a  hand.  The  orderly  ser 
geant  of  Company  C,  of  our  regiment,  jumped  over  to  me.  It  was  now  getting 
dark,  so  we  lifted  him  over  the  sticks  and  threw  him  into  the  arms  of  our  com 
rades.  I  found  a  stretcher,  and  with  the  aid  of  some  men  carried  him  to  the 
Ninth  Corps  Hospital." 


AGAIN  at  Fort  Harrison,  Lieutenant  Jamieson  and  Sergeant  Wolff  captured 
the  fort  entirely  unaided. 

"Fort  Harrison  was  one  of  the  many  forts  upon  the  main  line  of  the  de 
fenses  of  Richmond,  built  to  resist  General  McClellan  in  1862.  The  works  were 
large  and  substantial  and  mounted  sixteen  heavy  guns.  To  capture  this  fort  it 
would  be  necessary  for  some  one  to  lead  on  the  boys,  who.  though  brave  enough, 
could  not  face  the  withering  fire  of  the  protected  enemy.  Giving  my  gun  to 
Wolff  and  telling  him  to  follow  me,  I  seized  our  flag  and  started  to  try  to 
plant  it  on  the  enemy's  fortifications.  With  a  rush  we  reached  a  place  beneath 
their  walls,  and  then,  with  his  aid,  I  crawled  to  the  top.  letting  down  the  flag- 
staff  for  him  to  crawl  up  the  side.  Then  another  scramble,  and  we  stood  at 
the  top  of  their  earthworks.  At  the  sight  of  the  flag  the  Confederates,  thinking 


-•  

we  were   followed   by  large   numbers,  turned   and   fled,  all   but   a   few  who   sur 
rendered. 

"Thereupon  I  waved  the  flag  around  my  head  and  planted  it  on  the  top  of 
the  defense.  Our  men  now  came  up  and  took  possession  of  the  fort,  which  we 
held  against  all  efforts  of  the  rebels  to  retake  it." 


STOOD  HIS 
GROUND 


AT  BLACKBURN'S 
FORD,  VA.,  on 
the  18th  of  July, 
1861.  the  enemy's 
fire  became  so 
destructive  that 
the  command  was 
ordered  to  re 
treat,  but  Private 
Charles  F.  Rand, 
not  hearing  the 
order,  did  not 
move  until  the 
entire  battalion  v 
of  500  men  had 
been  swept  in 
disorder  from  the 
field.  Apparently 
oblivious  or  in 
different  to  the 
dangers  of  his 
position,  he  held 

his   ground   with   an   old    Harper's   Ferry   musket   that   had   been   changed   from 
a  flintlock. 

The  ground  was  plowed  in  all  directions  by  shell  and  solid  shot,  yet  the  only 
injury  he  received  was  from  flying  dirt  and  stones.  The  enemy  finally  seemed 
to  pity  him,  and  refused  to  fire  on  him.  Even  then  he  would  not  fall  back, 
but  worked  his  way  across  a  deep  ravine,  where  he  found  the  command  of 


CHARLES   F.    RAND. 
PrivnU>,  Co.  K,  12th  X.  Y.  Infantry. 


Captain  H.  A.  Barrum,  who  were  on  their  faces,  firing  and  turning  on  their 
backs  to  load,  not  being  able  to  rise  to  their  knees.  He  crept  up  to  them,  joined 
the  line  and  fought  with  it  to  the  end  of  the  engagement. 


A    DARING    ESCAPE    FROM   LIBBY 

PRISON 


T  BULL  RUN,VA.,  July  21, 1861,  this  officer,  then  a  first 
lieutenant,  and  II.  Q.  M.,  Thirty-eighth  New  York 
Volunteers,  took  a  rifle  and  fought  with  his  regiment 
in  ranks.  When  the  regiment  was  forced  back,  he 
voluntarily  remained  on  the  field  with  the  wounded, 
was  taken  prisoner,  confined  in  Libby  Prison,  thence 
escaped,  and  after  great  suffering  and  privation,  made 
his  way  into  the  Union  lines  and  rejoined  his  regi 
ment." 

The   above  is   the   brief,   official   record   of  a   feat 
of  gallantry  and  an  experience  of  hardship  and  suffer 
ing  which  is  deserving   of  more   detailed   description. 
After  the  battle,  when  his  position  was  at  the  rear 
with   his   wagon  trains,    Lieutenant    Murphy   was    re 
peatedly  urged  to  leave  the  field  with  the  routed   army,  but  steadfastly  refused, 
on  the  ground  that  not  one  man  could  be  spared  from  care  of  the  wounded,  and 
chose  rather  to  risk  death  or  capture  than  leave  the  men  to  die  uncared  for. 

His  zealous  and  efficient  aid  to  the  surgeons  won  him  the  sobriquet  of 
"Doctor,"  which  clung  to  him  at  Manassas  and  Richmond  prisons,  where  he 
was  sent  after  his  capture.  He  says:  ''After  reaching  Manassas,  the  rebels,  be- 


CHARLES    J.    MURPHY,  ' 

1st.  Lieut.,  38th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Colonel. 

Born  in  Stockport,  England,  June  3, 1832. 


On  the  16th  of  July,  1861,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  numbering  about  35,000  under  the  command 
of  General  McDowell,  occupied  the  neighborhood  of  Centerville,  Va.,  about  six  miles  east  of  the  Confederate 
headquarters  at  Manassas,  and  contiguous  to  the  stream  called  Bull  Run,  which  separated  the  positions  of 
General  McDowell's  Army  and  that  of  General  Beauregard,  whose  forces  numbered  about  40,000.  A  slight 
repulse  to  General  Taylor's  Division  of  the  Federal  Army,  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  on  the  18th  of  July,  was  the 
only  preliminary  engagement  to  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run.  On  the  21st  the  advance  was  made  from  Center 
ville.  Tyler's  demonstration  at  the  Stone  Bridge,  which  was  to  have  enabled  Burnside's  flanking  column  to 
fall  upon  the  enemy's  rear,  was  feeble,  and  the  flank  movement  was  discovered,  and  met  by  Evans  with  a 
detachment.  The  rebels  were  repulsed,  and  the  center  of  the  action  was  transferred  to  the  Henry  House 
plateau,  where  the  Confederates  were  re-enforced  and  the  Union  Army  was  at  length  entirely  routed,  falling 
back  to  Washington  in  utter  confusion.  The  Union  Army  lost  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  2,952  men, 
while  the  Confederates  lost  1,782  men. 


—  9  — 


lieving  me  to  be  a  doctor,  offered  me  parole,  but  when  I  found  that  a  sufficient 
number  of  surgeons  was  to  return  to  attend  the  wounded,  I  peremptorily  re 
fused  to  accept  it,  and  was  taken  prisoner  to  Richmond,  from  which  place,  with 
two  companions,  Captain  J.  R.  Hurd  and  Colonel  Wm.  H.  Raynor,  I  effected 
an  escape,  after  the  most  unheard  of  sufferings  and  privations." 

There   was  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  sick  or  wounded   crowded  together 
in  the  buildings,  and  the  suffering  was  so  terrible  that   several  Union   surgeons, 


IN    LIBBY   PRISON 

who  were  prisoners,  were  permitted  to  assist  in  caring  for  them.  Upon  giving 
their  parole,  they  were  provided  with  red  rosettes,  and  allowed  to  pass  from 
one  prison  to  another,  and  also  to  go  about  the  city.  Among  these  was  Lieu 
tenant  Murphy,  though  not  on  parole,  and,  when  not  on  hospital  duty,  always 
accompanied  by  an  armed  guard. 

Captain  Hurd,  Colonel  Raynor,  and  Lieutenant  Murphy  planned  to  escape,  by 
passing  the  guards,  wearing  red  rosettes  cut  from  Captain  Kurd's  red  flannel 
shirt.  They  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  the  city,  and  started  on  their  painful 
and  hazardous  journey  north,  traveling  as  rapidly  as  possible  through  the  night, 
and  hiding  in  the  thickets  by  day,  never  moving  forward  by  daylight,  unless 
under  cover  of  the  dense  forest,  and  never  free  from  apprehension  of  pursuit 
and  discovery.  Though  unarmed  they  had  resolved  to  fight  against  any  odds, 
and  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible  rather  than  submit  to  recapture. 


—  10  — 

They  suffered  terribly  from  sore  feet,  and  even  more  from  thirst,  but,  undis- 
couraged,  pressed  on.  For  eleven  days  they  struggled  on  over  rough  country 
roads,  through  underbrush  and  dense  woods,  enduring  hunger  and  thirst,  pain 
and  fatigue,  chased  by  rebel  sympathizers,  passing  themselves  off  as  rebel  sol 
diers,  encountering  every  kind  of  obstacle,  hardship,  and  suffering,  but  still  un 
dismayed,  and  determined  to  reach  their  goal. 

When  they  reached  Lower  Cedar  Point  it  seemed  that  their  troubles  must  be 
over,  for  a  Union  Revenue  Cutter  was  anchored  in  the  river,  but  the  captain 
made  no  response  to  their  hail,  and  soon  weighed  anchor  and  sailed  down  the 
river.  This  disappointment  was  a  terrible  blow  to  the  poor  fugitives,  who,  like 
shipwrecked  sailors,  had  been  elated  to  the  highest  pitch  in  hope  of  relief,  by  a 
sail  on  the  horizon,  only  to  be  cast  into  greater  despair  than  ever  by  its  disap 
pearance.  They  passed  the  night  in  anxiety  and  discouragement,  surrounded 
by  the  rebels,  and  tormented  by  reflection  on  their  past  suffering  and  present 
situation. 

In  the  morning,  however,  the  Cutter  returned,  and  the  captain  decided  to 
take  the  risk  of  coming  closer  and  taking  them  aboard.  The  neighborhood  was 
dangerous,  and  he  had  thought  their  signal  in  the  night  a  decoy  of  the  enemy 
to  get  his  men  ashore. 

The  three  were  sent  to  Washington  on  a  tug,  and  when  they  stepped  ashore 
Captain  Hurd  said :  "  Boys,  I  have  lived  twenty-seven  days  in  the  Rocky  Moun 
tains  on  mule's  meat,  with  the  snow  four  feet  deep,  but  that  was  nothing  to 
the  hardships  we  have  just  gone  through." 


L' 


ADELBERT    AMES. 

1st.  Lieut.,  5th  U.  S.  Artillery. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Bvt.  Maj-Gen.,  Vols. 

Born  in  Rockland,  Maine. 


WITH    GRIFFIN'S   BATTERY 

IEUTENANT  ADELBERT  AMES  remained  upon  the 
field  in  command  of  a  section  of  Griffin's  Battery, 
directing  its  fire  after  being  severely  wounded,  and 
refusing  to  leave  the  field  until  too  weak  to  sit 
upon  the  caisson,  where  he  had  been  placed  by  men 
of  his  command. 

A  description  of  the  action  of  this  battery  during 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  the  conduct  of  this  young 
officer  are  given  in  the  following  story.  It  illustrates 
the  remarkable  energy  of  a  brave  soldier  who  refuses 
to  leave  his  post  of  duty,  even  though  severely 
wounded. 


—  11  — 


SAVED   THE    GUN 


"O 


N  THE  morning  of  the  21st  of  July,"  writes  Corporal  McGough,  "our  Battery  D. 
Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery,  crossed  Bull  Run.  and,  after  going  through  the  narrow  strip  of 
woods,  came  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  who  had  two  batteries  playing  full  upon  us. 
"While  galloping  into  action,  Lieutenant  Adelbert  Ames,  chief  of  our  section, 
was  riding  alongside  our  gun,  and  turning  to  me  said:  'McGough,  I  will  fire  the 
first  shot,'  which  he  proceeded  to  do  as  soon  as  we  were  in  position. 


SAVING  THE  GUN 

"  The  firing  by  this  time  was  furious  and  deadly,  and  while  Lieutenant 
Ames  was  aiming  the  piece,  a  shot  pierced  his  thigh  disabling  him,  whereupon 
he  ordered  me  to  report  to  the  captain  of  the  battery,  that  he  had  been 
wounded.  I  told  him  I  could  not  go  at  that  time,  and  took  my  position  as 
gunner  of  the  piece,  telling  him  that  he  had  better  go  to  the  hospital,  as  it 
meant  sure  death  for  him  to  stay  where  he  was.  His  reply  was:  'Not  while 
this  gun  is  mounted.' 

"About  half  an  hour  after.  Sergeant  Murphy  was  wounded,  and  then  number 
one  of  the  piece  was  killed.  By  the  time  we  got  our  range  we  were  ordered 
to  change  our  position  to  one  a  little  further  to  the  northwest,  and  Lieutenant 
Ames  asked  me  to  ride  his  horse,  while  he  would  ride  on  the  limber.  He 
remained  there,  directing  the  fire  of  the  piece,  until  he  was  too  weak  to  hold 


—  12  — 

his  seat.  No  sooner  had  we  gotten  into  position  than  we  were  again  ordered 
to  change,  this  time  to  the  top  of  a  hill  near  by.  Here  we  were  in  an  exposed 
position,  at  close  range,  and  in  bringing  the  piece  into  action  a  shot  struck  the 
wheel,  carrying  it  away  and  killing  Patrick  Sullivan. 

''Under  the  galling  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  infantry,  we,  with  great 
difficulty,  put  on  a  spare  wheel,  and  got  the  piece  off  the  field,  the  other  five 
pieces  of  the  battery  being  captured  by  the  rebels." 


ONLY  SEVEN 


ACCORDING    to    the    offi 
cial  report,  Private  A. 
J.  Knowles  was  honored 
for  ''  removing  dead  and 
wounded  under  heavy 
fire."    He  relates  his 
experience      briefly. 

"On  the   21st   of 
July,    after    a    des 
perate   charge  on  a 
hill     held     by    the 
rebels,    the     Second 
Maine     Infantry,   of 
which  I  was  a  mem 
ber,  was   ordered   to 
fall  back.     The  colo 
nel,    seeing     that     a 
number  of    the    men 
were   left  where  they 
had    fallen,    asked   for 
volunteers    to    go    with 
him  to  bring   them  within 
the    lines.      When    the    colonel 
called    for  volunteers   seven   of   us 
stepped    forward    and    signified   our 
willingness  to  go  with  him. 

"The  colonel  then  addressed  the 
regiment,  saying:  'Are  these  seven  men  the  only  ones  of  the  Second  Maine  who 
will  follow  their  colonel  to  pick  up  the  wounded?' 


ABIATHER   J.    KNOWLES, 

Private,  Co.  D,  2d  Maine  Infantry. 
Born  at  La  Grange,  Maine,  March  15,  1830. 


—  13  — 


"Not   another  man  advanced,  and,  led  by  the  colonel,  we  proceeded,  under  a 
withering  fire,  to  pick  up  our  wounded  and  bring  them  within  our  lines." 

For  this   General   Keyes    commended   the 
colonel  and  his  seven  men  in  the  highest  terms. 


EAGER  TO  FIGHT 


T 


HE  term  of  service  of  the  Fourth  Pennsyl 
vania  Infantry  expired  on  the  20th  of  July. 
Though  Colonel  John  F.  Hartranft  urged  them 
to  remain,  the  entire  regiment,  except  Captain 
Walter  H.  Cooke.  refused,  and  were  marched 
to  the  rear. 

Colonel  Hartranft  then  volunteered  his 
services  and  was  assigned  to  the  staff  of 
Colonel  W.  B.  Franklin,  where  he  rendered 
valuable  services,  especially  distinguishing  him 
self  attempting  to  rally  the  demoralized  regi 
ments. 


JOHN  F.  HARTRANFT, 

Colonel,  4th  Pa.  Mil.    Highest  rank  attained: 
Maj-Gen.,  U.  S.  Vols. 


ATTEMPTED   TO  CAPTURE  A  FLAG 


SERGEANT  JOHN  G.  MERRiTT,  Company  K,  First  Minnesota  Infantry,  distin 
guished  himself  by  "gallantry  in  action"  at  the  first  Bull  Run  battle.  Just 
before  the  battle  he  applied  for  the  privilege  of  selecting  four  men  for 
the  purpose  of  capturing  the  first  Confederate  flag  that  they  could  get, 
and  permission  being  granted,  he  selected  Sergeant  Dudley,  Privates  Duffee 
and  Grim,  and  a  man  whose  name  is  unknown. 

Rickett's  Battery  came  directly  in  front  of  Company  K,  of  the  First  Minnesota, 
and  gave  the  enemy  a  couple  of  rounds  of  grape  and  canister,  which  threw 
them  into  the  utmost  confusion.  Merritt,  followed  by  his  companions,  took 
advantage  of  this  to  advance  on  a  color-bearer.  He  commanded  him  to  sur 
render  and  seized  the  colors.  The  party  then  made  a  dash  for  the  regiment, 
but  the  Confederates,  rallying,  pursued  them,  firing  a  volley  which  killed  Grim 
and  the  unknown.  The  next  volley  killed  Duffee  and  wounded  Merritt  in  the 
leg.  Another  bullet  went  through  his  breast  pocket  and  shivered  his  pipe  to 
pieces.  He  dropped  his  gun  but  held  on  to  the  flag,  running  as  fast  as  possible, 
although  impeded  by  his  wounded  leg.  Before  he  had  gone  far  he  was  knocked 
down  by  a  blow  on  the  head  with  the  stock  of  a  musket.  While  he  was  still 
helpless,  though  not  unconscious,  the  rebels  pulled  the  flag  from  his  hands  and 
fell  back  on  the  run. 

Merritt,   assisted   by  Dudley,  managed   to   escape   from   the   field. 


AN  EXCITING  CHASE 


A    FEW  days   prior  to   the    10th   of   August,    1861,  the   term   of   service   of  the 
First  Iowa  Infantry  had  expired,  and  they  were  asked  whether  they  would  take 
their  discharges  or  remain  in  service  until  after  the  expected  battle  at  Wilson's 
Creek.     The   men,  with   one   accord,  decided   to   remain   in   service,  all   of  them 


Wilson's  Creek. —  In  the  month  of  August,  1861,  General  Lyon,  with  a  force  of  5,500,  was  at  Spring 
field,  Mo.,  confronting  12,000  of  the  enemy  under  McCullough  and  Price. 

After  a  skirmish  at  Dug  Springs  on  the  1st,  the  Union  force  retreated  to  Springfield. 

On  the  9th,  General  Lyon  moved  against  the  enemy,  sending  General  Sigel,  with  1,200  men  and  six 
guns  to  gain  his  rear  by  the  right. 

The  frontal  attack,  led  by  General  Lyon,  was  energetic  and  effective,  but  the  flanking  party  was  over 
whelmed,  losing  five  guns  and  more  than  half  of  its  men. 

General  Lyon  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his  column,  and,  the  news  of  Sigel's  disaster  reaching  the 
main  division,  the  troops  fell  back  to  Springfield.  The  Union  loss  was  1,236;  the  Confederate,  1,095. 


-  15  — 

being  eager  for  action.  Private  Nicholas  Bou 
quet,  a  member  of  Company  D  of  this  regiment, 
describes  his  experience  in  the  battle  as  follows : 

"We   all   wanted    to    have   a  whack   at   the 
Rebels  before  going  home,  and,  as  luck  would 
have  it,  Company  D,  to  which  I  belonged,  along 
with  Company  E,  were  detailed  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel   Merritt  to  support  Totten's  Battery. 
This   order  brought   us   into  a  hand-to-hand 
contest  with   the    enemy,  and,  although   we 
were    engaging    a    superior    force,    we    four 
times  repulsed  them. 

"When    the  retreat  of  our  forces   was 
ordered,  after   General    Lyon    had    fallen, 
one   of    the  guns   of    Totten's    Battery    had 
been    left  behind,  because   one  of  its  horses 
had  been  killed. 

"Being  this  time  on  the  skirmish  line,  I  was  called  by  the  gunner  of  the 
piece  to  help  catch  a  riderless  horse  which  was  galloping  about  the  field  be 
tween  the  lines.  To  catch  this  horse  was  to  save  the  gun  from  falling  into  the 
enemy's  hands  —  a  most  important  factor  in  battle. 

"The  enemy  were  closing  in  upon  us,  but,  with  the  thought  of  saving  the 
gun,  not  heeding  the  rain  of  bullets  from  both  lines,  we  started  after  the  horse, 
and  in  a  short  time  had  him.  Leading  him  with  all  possible  haste  to  the  aban 
doned  gun,  we  soon  had  him  hitched  to  it.  and  away  we  went,  following  the 
retreating  regiment,  and  in  a  short  time  had  it  safely  within  the  lines  of  our 
army." 


NICHOLAS   BOUQUET, 

Private.  Co.  D,  1st  Iowa  Infantry. 
Born  in  Bavaria.  Germany,  Nov.  14,  1842. 


The  first  important  movement  after  Bull  Run,  though  skirmishes  and  minor  actions  were  of  almost  daily 
occurrence,  was  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1862,  followed  on 
the  i6th  by  the  surrender  of  Fort  Donelson  and  15,000  Confederate  troops.  The  operations  were  conducted 
by  General  Grant  in  co-operation  with  Commodore  Foote  and  resulted  in  breaking  the  Confederate  lines  at  the 
west,  giving  control  of  the  Mississippi  River  above  Vicksburg  to  the  Federal  Government. 


New  Berne,  N.  C. —  Burnside's  attack  on  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  was  a  feature  of  his  Roanoke  Expedition,  in 
January,  1862,  in  which  he  was  supported  by  the  fleet  in  command  of  Flag  Officer  Goldsborough.  The  force 
consisted  of  31  gunboats,  11,500  troops,  and  a  fleet  of  small  vessels  for  transportation. 

On   the   14th   of  March  he   attacked   New  Berne. 

The  place  w&s  taken,  together  with  46  heavy  guns,  3  batteries  of  light  artillery,  and  a  supply  of 
stores,  while  Burnside's  loss  was  90  killed  and  466  wounded. 


—  16 


RESCUED   1,000  ROUNDS  OF  AMMUNITION 
AND  A  WOUNDED  COMRADE 


"  A  FTER   two   hours   of    hard   fighting    at    the 
J\   battle  of  Shiloh,"  says  Private  Elwood  N. 
Williams,  "we  were  ordered  to  beat  a  retreat, 
with  the  Thirty-second  Alabama  Infantry  close  at 
our  heels.    Our  force,  though  inadequate,  fought 
unflinchingly,  and  for  a  time  maintained  a  success 
ful  resistance. 

"In  the  heat  of  the  action  a  box  containing  a 
thousand  rounds  of  ammunition  was  inadvertently 
left  between  the  lines.  Colonel  Johnson  was  in 
formed  of  the  fact  and  immediately  called  for  vol 
unteers  to  recover  the  box.  W.  P.  Price  a  former 
schoolmate  of  mine,  and  I  volunteered  to  do  this. 

"The  box  lay  about  one  thousand  yards  from 
our  lines,  and  in  order  to  reach  it  under  the 
heavy  fire  of  both  sides,  we  were  compelled  to 
crawl  on  our  hands  and  knees.  We  reached  the 
box  in  safety,  but  while  we  were  returning 
with  it.  Price  fell  mortally  wounded. 

"I  then  shouldered  the  box  and  started  off  for  our  lines,  expecting  momen 
tarily  to  meet  the  fate  of  Price.  Luckily,  however,  I  succeeded  in  safely  de 
livering  the  box,  and  was  greeted  by  my  fellow  soldiers  with  cheers. 

"Having  safely  delivered  the  box,  it  was  now  my  duty  to  look  after  my 
wounded  comrade,  and  T  immediately  returned  and  brought  him  within  the 
lines.  I  turned  him  over  to  the  care  of  the  hospital  corps,  where  twelve  days 
later  he  died  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds." 


ELWOOD   N.    WILLIAMS, 

Private,  Co.  A,  28th  Illinois  Infantry. 
Born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Nov.  11,  1842. 


Shiloh. —  In  March,  1862,  a  force  was  posted  at  Shiloh,  or  Pittsburg  Landing,  on  the  Tennessee 
River,  to  watch  the  operations  of  the  enemy  gathering  at  Corinth.  The  force  was  gradually  increased  to  a 
strength  of  about  32,000,  consisting  of  the  divisions  of  McClernand,  Prentiss,  Hurlbut,  Lew  Wallace,  and 
Sherman,  under  command  of  General  U.  S.  Grant. 

On  the  16th  of  April  the  troops  were  engaged  in  action,  which  lasted  two  days.  On  the  evening  of 
the  16th,  when  fortune  seemed  against  the  Federals,  they  were  re-enforced  by  General  Buell  with  three 
divisions,  aggregating  18,000  men.  The  next  day  they  assumed  the  offensive  and  swept  the  enemy  from  the 
field. 

The  Confederate  Army,  commanded  by  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  was  45,000  strong,  and  suf 
fered  a  loss  of  10,694. 

The  Union  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  9,195  with  3,122  taken  prisoners. 


—  17  — 


THE   MITCHELL    RAIDERS 


(1)  MARK  WOOD, 

Private,  Co.  C,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

(2)  W.  J.  KNIGHT, 

Private,  Co.  E,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

(3)  DAN'L.  A.  DORSEY, 
Corp.,  Co.  H,  33d  Ohio  Inf. 

(4)  ROBT.   BUFFUM, 

Private,  Co.'  H,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

(5)  *J.  A.  WILSON, 

Private,  Co.  C,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 


JAMES  SMITH; 

NOTE. —  *  Hanged  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  as  spies. 


(6)  WM.  BENSINGER, 
Private,  Co.  G,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

(7)  WM.  REDDICK, 

Corp.,  Co.  B,  33d  Ohio  Inf. 

(8)  JOHN  WOLLAM, 
Private.  Co.  C,  33d  Ohio  Inf. 

(9)  W.  A.  FULLER. 

1 10)  W.  W.  BROWN, 

Private,  Co.  F,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 
*  SAM'L.  ROBERTSON 


(II)*SAM'L.  SLAVENS, 
Private,  Co.  E,  33d  Ohio  Inf. 

(12)  E.  H.  MASON, 
Serg't.,  Co.  K,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

(13}  M.  J.  HAWKINS, 
Corp.,  Co.  A,  33  Ohio  Inf. 

(14)  *  MARIAN  A.  Ross, 
Serg't-Maj.,  2d  Ohio  Inf. 

(15)  JOHN  R.  PORTKR, 
Private,  Co.  G.  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

*  WM.  CAMPBELL 


(16)  JACOB  PARROTT, 
Private,  Co.  K,  33d  Ohio  Inf. 

( 17)  *  JOHN  M.  SCOTT, 
Serg't.,  Co.  F,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

(18)  ANDREW  MURPHY. 

(19)  WM.  PITTINGER, 
Serg't-Maj.,  2ist  Ohio  Inf. 

*  J.  J.  ANDREWS 

*  PERRY  SHADRACK 


THE  MITCHELL  RAID 


ONE  of  the  most  interesting  and  thrilling  incidents  of  the  early  campaigns  of 
1862,  as  an  exploit  of  reckless  daring,  if  not  of  successful  strategy,  was  this 
celebrated  railroad  raid,  organized  with  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  rebel  line 
of   communication  with   Chattanooga,  and  placing  that   important  stronghold   at 
the  mercy  of  General  Mitchell's  forces. 


—  18  — 


The  raid  was  led  by  James  J.  Andrews  of  Kentucky,  who  had  previously 
acted  as  a  spy  for  General  Buell.  The  expedition  consisted  of  twenty  men  of 
the  Second,  Twenty-first,  and  Thirty-third  Ohio  regiments,  who  volunteered  for 
the  service,  and  two  civilians. 

Wearing  citizens'  clothes,  and  carrying  only  side-arms,  they  proceeded  from 
General  Mitchell's  camp  at  Shelbyville,  Tenn..  to  Chattanooga,  in  detachments 
of  three  or  four,  representing  themselves  to  be  Kentuckians  on  their  way  to 
join  the  Confederate  Army.  From  Chattanooga  they  made  their  way  to  Mari 
etta,  Ga.,  which  was  to  be  the  starting  point  for  the  raid. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th  of   April  they  boarded  a  train  loaded  with  rebel 
troops    and    ammunition,  and    rode    to    Big    Shanty  (now  Kenesaw 
Station),  having  bought  tickets   to  different  stations  along 
the   line  to  disarm  suspicion.     At   Big  Shanty  the 

train   stopped,  and    the    conductor,    en-  j 

gineer,    and    many    of    the    pas 
sengers    went    out    to 
breakfast,  leaving 
the  train  un 
guarded 


-, 


—  19  — 

The  little  band  immediately  took  possession,  uncoupled  a  section  of  the 
train,  consisting  of  three  empty  box-cars,  the  locomotive  and  tender,  and  started 
at  full  speed  on  their  wild  ride  through  the  enemy's  country  to  Chattanooga. 

The  plan  was,  by  cutting  the  telegraph  wires  and  tearing  up  the  track,  to 
destroy  all  means  of  communication  east  and  south,  preventing  the  re-enforce 
ment  of  the  garrison  at  Chattanooga,  and  leaving  the  way  clear  for  General 
Mitchell,  who,  with  a  detachment  from  his  division,  was  at  this  very  moment 
moving  on  the  town  by  rail  from  Hunts ville,  Ala.,  one  hundred  miles  to  the 
west. 

The  train  was  run  at  a  furious  rate  of  speed,  stopping  occasionally  to  enable 
the  men  to  tear  up  the  rails  and  cut  the  wires.  At  the  stations  where  he  was 
compelled  to  stop,  Andrews  replied  to  all  inquiries  that  he  was  running  an  im 
pressed  powder  train  through  to  General  Beauregard. 

The  only  difficulties  ahead  were  the  extra  trains  flying  south  from  General 
Mitchell's  forces,  whose  approach  had  stampeded  the  enemy.  The  danger  was 
all  in  the  rear,  where  another  engine  in  charge  of  Anthony  Murphy,  master- 
mechanic  and  superintendent  of  the  road,  assisted  by  the  conductor  and  engi 
neer  of  the  captured  train,  was  gradually  gaining  on  them  in  spite  of  the 
obstacles  in  its  way.  The  pursuers  had  started  on  a  hand  car,  which  had  run  off 
the  track  at  one  of  the  breaks  in  the  road,  had  been  obliged  to  proceed  on  foot 
for  some  distance,  and  had  finally  pressed  into  service  a  locomotive  and  a  com 
pany  of  soldiers. 

Delayed  by  the  south-bound  trains  as  well  as  by  the  necessary  work  of  de 
struction,  the  Union  men  lost  valuable  time,  while  the  Confederates  seemed  able 
to  surmount  all  obstacles.  The  chase  was  as  desperate  as  the  flight,  the  issue 
almost  equally  vital  to  pursuer  and  pursued. 

At  Kingston  the  Federals  were  only  four  minutes  ahead,  and,  at  their  next 
halt,  the  whistle  of  the  enemy's  engine  was  heard  while  they  were  pulling  up 
the  rails.  The  rebels  saw  the  obstruction  in  time  to  avoid  a  wreck,  but  had  to 
leave  their  engine  and  start  again  on  foot.  The  relief  to  the  fugitives,  however, 
was  slight,  for,  before  going  far  the  rebels  stopped  and  reversed  a  south -bound 
train,  and  continued  the  chase. 

From  Calhoun  there  was  a  clear  track  to  Chattanooga,  but  the  pursuers  were 
gaining  rapidly.  The  fugitives  dropped  a  car  which  was  taken  up  and  pushed 
ahead  by  the  engine  in  the  rear.  The  Federals  broke  out  the  end  of  their  last 
box-car,  and  dropped  cross-ties  on  the  track,  checking  slightly  the  progress  of 
the  rebels,  and  gaining  enough  time  to  get  in  wood  and  water  at  two  stations. 
Several  times  they  stopped,  and  almost  succeeded  in  lifting  a  rail,  but  each 
time  the  Confederates,  coming  within  rifle  range,  compelled  them  to  give  up 
the  attempt.  As  a  final  desperate  effort  they  set  fire  to  their  third  and  last  car, 
and  as  they  passed  over  a  long,  covered  bridge  at  Oostenaula,  uncoupled  it  and 
left  it  in  the  center  of  the  bridge.  The  Confederates  were  upon  the  bridge  before 


—  20  — 

the  fire  had  gained  much  headway,  and  the  pursuing  engine,  dashing  through 
the  flame  and  smoke,  drove  the  car  before  it  to  the  next  side-track.  Every 
effort  had  failed  that  ingenuity  could  devise  and  reckless  courage  execute,  and. 
on  the  very  threshold  of  success,  it  was  plain  that  escape  was  impossible.  Fuel 
was  now  very  low.  and,  though  the  locomotive  was  urged  to  its  greatest  speed, 
swaying  and  trembling  from  its  tremendous  impulse,  it  was  a  question  of  very 
few  minutes  before  it  would  have  to  be  abandoned. 

As  it  began  to  slow  down  the  signal  was  given  for  a  general  sauve-qw-peut, 
but  the  little  band  was  at  once  overpowered.  They  were  taken  to  Atlanta,  where 
the  leader  and  seven  of  his  men  were  tried  by  court-martial,  condemned,  and 
executed. 

The  others  were  kept  in  prison  until  the  following  October,  when,  agreeing 
among  themselves  that  death  by  a  bullet  would  be  preferable  to  the  scaffold, 
they  planned  an  escape,  a  venture  quite  as  desperate  as  that  upon  which  they 
had  embarked  in  the  spring,  but,  fortunately,  more  successful.  By  a  concerted 
attack  upon  the  guards  they  managed  to  escape,  but  only  eight  of  them  reached 
home,  after  a  most  terrible  experience,  thus  described  by  one  of  the  survivors: 

"In  just  forty-eight  days  and  nights,  for  the  nights  should  be  counted,  since 
under  cover  of  darkness  we  made  most  progress,  we  reached  the  Federal  lines, 
footsore  and  worn  to  skeletons.  We  were  forced  to  wade  streams,  swim  swift- 
running  rivers,  scale  mountains,  and  at  the  same  time  be  constantly  on  the 
alert  against  the  enemy,  who  were  always  around  us.  The  thought  that  capture 
meant  certain  death  alone  kept  us  on  the  march.  No  person  can  describe  our 
sufferings — God  only  knows  what  we  were  forced  to  endure. 

"To  gain  rest  in  sleep  was  impossible.  To  close  our  eyes  in  unconsciousness 
was  only  to  dream  of  pursuit  by  bloodhounds,  of  the  huge  scaffold  on  the  out 
skirts  of  Atlanta,  where  our  friends  had  been  hanged,  and  where,  it  was  said, 
we  should  share  the  same  fate ;  or  of  a  sudden  attack  in  which  a  bullet  would 
have  been  more  merciful  than  man." 


—  21  — 


A   PLUCKY   CHARGE 


'O 


SAMUEL   E.    PINGREE, 
Captain,  Co.  F,  3d  Vermont  Infantry. 
Born  at  Salisbury,  N.  H.,  Aug.  2,  1832. 


N  THE  16th  of  April,  1862,"  Captain  Pingree, 
who  led  the  charge  at  Lee's  Mills,  Va.,  nar 
rates  "General  McClellan  confronted  the  enemy,  en 
trenched  along  the  Warwick  and  south  of  York- 
town.  No  attempt  to  force  the  line  had  been 
made,  although  cannonading  at  long  range  and 
musketry  firing  at  close  quarters  had  been  brisk. 

"About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  two  com 
panies  of  my  regiment,  supported  by  two  others 
were  selected 
to  attack  the 
enemy's  line 
on  the  other 


side    of     the 

creek,  and  to  capture  and  hold  a  crescent  bat 
tery  and  the  lines  of  rifle  pits  protecting  it. 
My  company,  which  headed  the  assault,  was 
deployed  quite  closely.  Unclasping  their 
waist-belts,  each  held  high  his  cartridge-box 
in  the  left  hand  and  his  rifle  in  the  right.  As 
soon  as  the  batteries  on  the  slope  in  the  rear 
ceased  firing,  both  companies  started  for  the 
creek.  The  enemy  at  the  same  time  opened 
fire  from  the  rifle-pits  across  the  stream. 

"  The  water  was  breast  high  in  the  nar 
row  channel,  but  shallower  on  both  sides 
of  it,  about  two  hundred  feet  wide,  mostly 
artificial  flowage  for  a  line  of  defense,  and 
was  further  obstructed  with  felled  trees. 

"  In  spite  of  the  deadly  fire  of  the  enemy, 
the  two  companies  pushed  on,  and,  without 
a  halt  on  the  other  shore,  dashed  straight 
for  the  rifle-pits  and  battery,  driving  the 
enemy  into  the  woods.  Shouts  of  triumph 
went  up  and  signals  of  success  were 
waved  back  to  our  lines.  The  two  sup 
porting  companies  followed  us  up  and 
joined  in  holding  the  captured  works.  The 
line  of  the  Warwick  was  broken.  We 


—  22  — 

anxiously  waited  for  the  arrival  of  the  head  of  the  division  which  was  to 
follow  us  if  we  found  the  crossing  possible,  but  no  assistance  came. 

"The  enemy  rallied  from  their  panic,  and  with  several  regiments  hastened 
to  attack  our  little  party  of  less  than  two  hundred  rifles. 

"  We  had  lost  heavily  while  fording  the  stream,  and  now  the  men  were  fall 
ing  fast  as  the  enemy  rallied  against  us  in  overwhelming  force.  Messengers 
were  sent  back  twice,  explaining  the  situation  and  asking  for  re-enforcements 
or  orders  to  fall  back. 

"As  we  rushed  for  the  rifle-pits,  I  received  a  wound  below  the  left  hip, 
which  for  a  few  moments  prostrated  me  and  benumbed  my  left  leg  so  that  I 
could  not  rise,  but  I  soon  recovered,  and,  finding  no  bones  broken,  continued  to 
lead  the  men  on.  as  our  orders  were  to  capture  and  hold  the  works  till  re- 
enforcements  came.  It  was  a  critical  moment  when  the  Fifteenth  North  Caro 
lina  came  charging  down  upon  us  at  a  run.  but  the  well-directed  fire  of  the 
brave  Vermonters  checked  and  hurled  them  back,  extending  their  confusion  to 
the  two  Georgia  regiments  on  their  right. 

"It  was  at  this  stage  of  the  fight  that  my  right  hand  was  disabled  by  a  shot 
which  tore  away  my  right  thumb.  While  these  attacking  regiments  were  reor 
ganizing  for  an  assault  on  our  position,  the  order  came  to  fall  back  across  the 
river,  which  we  did,  helping  our  wounded  along. 

"The  fight  had  lasted  forty  minutes.  Out  of  the  fifty-two  officers  and  men 
of  my  company,  twenty-seven  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  of  the  three  hun 
dred  and  ninety-two  men  engaged,  forty-five  per  cent  were  killed  or  wounded." 


A  GALLANT  DRUMMER  BOY 


DRUMMER  LANGBEIN  was  the  smallest  member  of  the 
drum  corps  in  his  regiment,  and  his  face  and  figure 
was  so  plump  and  girlish,  that  he  was  known  to  all  his 
comrades  as  "Jennie,"  a  nickname  given  to  him  by  a 
soldier  of  the  regiment  wrho  said  that  the  lad  looked 
just  like  his  sweetheart  at  home  in  the  North. 

The  battle  of  Camden,  or  South  Mills,  N.  C.,  known 
to  the  Confederates  as  the  battle  of  Sawyer's  Lane, 
though  not  one  of  the  most  famous  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  was  a  hotly  contested  engagement  neverthe 
less.  It  occurred  during  the  expedition  sent  to  destroy 
the  .Culpeper  Lock  at  the  southern  end  of  the  Dismal 
Swamp  Canal,  in  the  rear  of  the  city  of  Norfolk,  Va.  One 


—  23  — 


of  its  notable  features  was  a  charge  by  the  Hawkins'  "  Zous,"  not  so  disastrous  as 
the  one  at  Antietam.  but  quite  as  daring.  It  was  during  this  mad  dash  that  Adju 
tant  Thomas  L.  Bartholomew,  who  had  promised  "Jennie's"  mother  to  keep 
special  watch  over  her  boy.  and  between  whom  and  the  boy  the  closest  com 
radeship  existed,  was  struck  by  a  fragment  of  an  exploding  shell,  which  made  a 
frightful  wound  in  his  neck.  He  did  not  fall  at  once,  but  in  the  delirium  of 
pain  staggered  outside  the  ranks,  and  in  a 
moment  was  between  the  hostile  lines.  In 
time  of  action,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  musicians 
to  act  as  an  ambulance  corps;  to  look  after 
the  wounded  and  to  carry  them  on  stretchers 
to  the  rear.  Yet  it  is  not  part  of  the  drum 
mer's  work  to  unnecessarily  expose  himself; 
indeed,  it  is  expected  that  he  will  shelter  him 
self  as  much  as  possible,  since,  if  the  mem 
bers  of  the  ambulance  corps  are  killed,  fight 
ing  men  must  leave  the  ranks  to  take  their 
places.  Little  "Jennie"  Langbein,  however, 
had  no  notion  of  looking  out  for  his  own 
safety.  When  the  order  was  given  to  charge 
he  went  wjith  his  regiment,  with  a  sharp  eye 
for  disabled  comrades,  and  especially  for  Ad 
jutant  Bartholomew. 

Seeing  his  friend's  terrible  position,  the 
boy  rushed  up  to  him  through  the  rain  of  bullets,  and  screaming  shot  and 
shell,  caught  him  as  he  was  wandering  deliriously  and  aimlessly  about,  and 
managed  to  pilot  him  to  a  comparatively  quiet  place  to  the  rear  towards  the 
hospital  field. 

The  wounded  man  was  pronounced  by  the  regimental  surgeon  "nearly  dead" 
and  "not  worth  while  to  remove,"  but  young  Langbein  would  not  abandon  his 
friend.  Securing  the  assistance  of  a  stronger  comrade,  he  managed  to  carry  the 
unconscious  man  to  a  house  near  by. 

Later  in  the  day  the  Confederates  were  re-enforced,  and  the  Federals  had  to  re 
treat  in  such  haste,  that  there  was  no  question  of  taking  care  of  the  wounded. 
The  adjutant  would  have  been  abandoned  had  it  not  been  for  the  continued 
devotion  of  his  little  friend,  who  managed  to  get  him  into  the  army  wagon,  and 
stayed  by  him  till  he  was  safe  in  the  Federal  hospital  at  Roanoke. 


JULIUS  C.  J.  LANGBEIN, 


Drummer,  Co.  B,  9th  N.  Y.  Volunteers 

(Hawkins'    Zouaves). 
Born,  Sept.  29,  1846,  in  Germany. 


—  24  — 


"WHAT  IN  H--L  ARE  WE 
HERE  FOR?" 


A1 


MICHAEL   A.    DILLON, 

Private,  Co.  G,  2d  New  Hampshire  Infantry. 
B,irn  at  Cholmsford,  Mass.,  Sept.  29,  1839. 


BOUT  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May  5, 
1862,  Hooker's  division,  after  a  night  march 
through  a  drenching  rain,  over  muddy  roads,  with 
but  two  hours  of  rest,  came  upon  the  enemy  be 
fore  Fort  Magruder,  near  Williamsburg,  Va.  A 
hotly  contested  battle  ensued  between  Hooker's 
forces,  about  nine  thousand  men,  and  a  vastly 
superior  number.  The  Union  skirmish  line  was 
advanced  through  a  mass  of  fallen  timber  on  the 
right  of  Williamsburg  road,  close  to  Fort  Magruder, 
and  kept  up  a  severe  fire  at  short  range.  Long- 
street,  who  commanded  the  Confederates'  rear,  had 
passed  beyond  Williamsburg,  but  turned  back 
with  re-enforcements  to  crush,  if  possible,  Heintzelman's  corps.  Charge  after 
charge  was  made  from  the  fort,  but  could  not  release  the  grip  with  which 
Hooker's  men  held  the  enemy's  left.  The  battle  raged  until  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  in  a  heavy  rain.  Hooker's  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  he 
had  vainly  appealed  for  re-enforcements. 

Sumner,  coming  upon  the  field,  relieved  Heintzelman,  who  hastened  to  the 
field  where  Hooker  was  engaged.  He  gathered  drummers,  fifers,  buglers,  and 
other  musicians  to  the  number  of  a  hundred  or  more  pieces,  and  directed  them 
to  play.  "Play  anything,  'Yankee  Doodle,'  'Hail  Columbia,'  anything."  he 
ordered.  As  the  music  swelled  above  the  din  of  the  fight  with  increased  volume 
and  resonance,  the  failing  courage  of  the  wearied  men  was  revived,  and  the  cry 
went  up:  "Hold  on,  boys,  re-enforcements  are  coming!"  Stubbornly  and  hope 
fully  they  continued  the  contest,  until  Kearney's  arrival  afforded  Hooker's  tired, 
but  not  dispirited  men  the  relief  which  they  sorely  needed. 

During  one  of  the  charges  of  the  enemy  it  had  been  found  impossible  to 
withdraw  one  of  our  batteries,  and  four  guns  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  as  our 
lines  were  being  pressed  back.  Then  occurred  the  incident  which  displayed  the 
courage  of  young  Dillon,  and  won  for  him  the  Medal  of  Honor  awarded  by  Con- 


Williamsbiirg',  Va. —  After  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  by  General  Magruder,  May  4,  1862,  the 
rebels  were  pursued  by  our  forces  under  Hooker.  At  Williamsburg,  on  the  5th,  the  enemy  made  a  stand, 
and  the  attack  was  made  by  Hooker,  who  was  checked  by  the  heavy  firing  from  Fort  Magruder.  He 
was  re-enforced  by  General  Kearney,  and  the  enemy  was  compelled  to  retire  at  night. 

The  Union  loss  was  2,200;  the  Confederate,  1,000. 


—  25  — 

gress  for  conspicuous  bravery.  Seeing  the  pieces  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  he 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  rushed  forward,  begging  his  comrades  to  follow  and  re 
take  the  guns.  His  lieutenant,  seeing  him  thus  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire,  and 
fearing  it  might  be  concentrated  upon  the  position  which  they  occupied,  shouted 
to  him:  "Get  down,  Dillon,  you  are  drawing  the  enemy's  fire." 

Dillon  exclaimed:  "What  in  hell  are  we  here  for?  Come  on,  boys,  come  on! 
We  mustn't  let  them  take  that  battery."  And,  with  arms  raised  high  in  air 
pleading  for  men  to  follow  him,  he  rallied  a  gallant  group,  all  boys  like  himself, 


PRIVATE  DILLON   AT   FORT   MAGRUDER 

rushed  into  the  thickest   of  the  fight,  repulsed  and  drove  back  the  enemy,  and 
rescued  Battery  H,  First  United  States  Artillery. 

Dillon  received  a  bad  check  shot  before  success.  He  was  struck  in  the  leg 
by  a  ball,  which  felled  him ;  but  a  moment  before  the  recapture  he  was  venting 
his  wrath  in  forcible  language  at  the  loss  of  his  musket,  which  was  wrenched 
from  his  grasp  by  an  exploding  shell  and  shattered  into  fragments.  Staunching 
the  flow  of  blood,  and  picking  up  the  musket  of  a  fallen  comrade,  he  pluckily 
resumed  his  place  and  continued  the  fight  until  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  wit 
nessing  the  final  repulse  of  the  enemy. 


—  26  — 

ON  THE  18th  of  June,  just  prior  to  the  battle  of  Oak  Grove,  General  Hooker 
called  for  volunteers  to  take  a  redoubt  of  the  enemy  on  the  right  of  the  Wil- 
liamsburg  road.  Young  Dillon  was  among  the  first  to  report  by  stepping  to  the 
front.  His  lieutenant  ordered  him  to  fall  back,  remarking:  ''We  cannot  spare 
you;  there  is  going  to  be  desperate  work  to-day,  and  we  need  you  with  us." 
Dillon,  who  was  aching  to  get  another  whack  at  the  enemy,  replied:  "So  does 
General  Hooker  need  desperate  work  done,  and  has  called  for  volunteers,  and 
I  am  going."  He  seized  his  musket,  said  good-bye  to  his  lieutenant,  and  joined 
what  seemed  like  a  forlorn  hope.  Away  they  started  and  were  soon  charging 
across  an  open  field  in  the  face  of  a  deadly  fire  from  artillery  and  mus 
ketry,  leaving  many  comrades  dead  and  wounded,  as  they  advanced  upon  the 
run.  The  redoubt  was  reached,  the  parapet  gained,  and  Dillon  was  among 
the  first  in  the  short,  sharp,  and  deadly  conflict,  in  wThich  he  and  his  comrades 
were  victorious.  They  took  many  prisoners  and  held  the  fort  until  Hooker  ad 
vanced  his  lines. 


ANOTHER  brave  deed  mentioned  in  his  Medal  of  Honor  award  was  performed 
by  Private  Dillon  on  hands  and  knees.  At  the  battle  of  the  25th  of  June,  or 
the  first  of  the  seven  days'  desperate  fighting  in  front  of  Richmond,  during  a 
lull  in  front  of  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  Dillon  performed  an 
act  that  displayed  his  coolness  as  well  as  his  disregard  of  the  peril  to  which 
he  voluntarily  exposed  himself.  He  crawled  on  his  hands  and  knees  through 
the  grass  and  among  the  bushes,  in  advance  of  the  line,  into  the  enemy's  camp, 
overheard  the  details  of  Longstreet's  plans,  returned  safely,  and  communicated 
the  information  to  General  Hooker,  thereby  enabling  the  general  to  rearrange 
his  forces  in  such  a  manner  as  to  repulse  the  enemy. 


AT  THE  battle  of  Groveton.  on  the  29th  of  August,  1862,  in  which  the  Fed 
eral  brigade  of  John  Gibbon  and  part  of  Abner  Doubleday's  were  engaged, 
Dillon  again  distinguished  himself,  but  was  badly  wounded.  It  was  while  the 
Second  New  Hampshire  were  doggedly  retreating  step  by  step  from  the  ground 
gained  before,  and  attempting  to  form  a  new  line,  that  the  enemy  in  turn  made 
a  charge  upon  them.  Sergeant  Marshall,  who  was  with  Dillon,  said:  "Come, 
Dillon,  we  have  got  to  go,  they  are  charging  us."  Dillon  answered:  "Not  be 
fore  that  color-bearer  is  downed."  He  discharged  his  gun,  and  lowered  both 
colors  and  bearer  of  the  Forty-ninth  Georgia,  but  at  the  same  moment  he  him 
self  dropped,  shot  through  the  lungs,  the  bullet  passing  through  his  body  and 
breaking  three  ribs.  In  spite  of  his  desperate  wound,  after  partly  recovering  and 
receiving  his  discharge,  he  returned  to  the  army  and  served  throughout  the  war. 


•27  — 


"LET'S  CAPTURE  THEIR 
COLORS,    BOYS!" 


JOHN  N.    COYNE, 

Sergeant,  Co.  B,  70th  New  York   Infantry. 

Born  in  New  York  City,  Nov.  14,  1839. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Lieutenant-Colonel. 


WHEN  the  enemy  were  overtaken  at 
Williamsburg  the  Third  Excelsior, 
of  the  Seventieth  New  York  Volunteers, 
was  in  advance.  It  was  a  dark,  rainy  morn 
ing.  A  heavy  vapor  covered  the  field,  and 
the  smoke  of  the  battle  obscured  the  scene. 
As  the  supporting  regiment  approached, 
the  enemy,  who  were  concealed  in  the 
thick  woods,  sent  up  the  cry :  "  Show  your 
colors!"  The  color-bearer  waved  the  flag, 
and,  as  its  folds  spread  out  and  showed 
the  stars  and  stripes,  the  rebels  advanced 
from  the  woods  and  opened  fire.  The  fire 

was  returned  so  effectively  that  they  were  driven  back.     Another  advance,  with 
re-enforcements,  was  also  repulsed  by  the  valiant  Excelsiors. 

After  several  hours  of  conflict   the   ammunition  became   exhausted,  and   the 
New  Yorkers  were  ordered  to  fall  back  by  companies.     Sergeant  Coyne's  com 
pany,  which    during  the  latter  part  of  the 
battle    was    under   his   command,  the   cap 
tain  and  lieutenant   having   been   disabled, 
became   separated,  and  a  number  of  them, 
missing  their  way,  found  themselves  with 
their   leader    confronted  by  a  party  of  the 
enemy  surrounding  their  color-bearer. 

"  Let's  capture  their  colors,  boys  !  "  shouted 
Coyne,  and,  with  a  ringing  cheer,  the  little 
band  made  a  dash  for  the  enemy.  Coyne 
singled  out  the  color-bearer  and  rushed 
upon  him.  The  rebel  was  too  strong  to 
be  conquered  by  such  an  assault,  and  de 
fended  his  flag  bravely  until  a  bullet,  shat 
tering  his  right  hand,  forced  him  to  loosen 
his  hold  and  enabled  Coyne  to  drag  the 
trophy  from  him.  Tearing  the  flag  from 
the  staff  and  tying  it  around  his  body,  he 
turned  to  offer  battle  to  any  one  who  should 
attempt  to  retake  it ;  but  the  survivors  of 


—  28  — 

the  enemy  were  hurriedly  leaving  the  field  before  a  rescuing  party  sent  by  General 
Heintzelman.  Of  the  brave  band  who  had  supported  their  leader  but  few  re 
mained  standing,  and  Sergeant  Cook,  Corporal  Beekman,  and  Privates  Howard 
and  Lynch  were  killed  outright. 

Sergeant  Coyne  received  the  commission  of  second  lieutenant  to  date  from 
the  battle.  He  was  mentioned  for  bravery  in  general  orders  by  General  Heint 
zelman,  and  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  for  several  other 
acts  of  gallantry  during  the  war. 


THREE  DEEDS  OF  VALOR 


'A 


T  WILLIAMSBURG  I  performed  one  of  the  deeds  for  which  Congress  awarded 
me  a  Medal  of  Honor.     I  was  out  on  the  skirmish  line  with  our  company 
at  the  time,  and  after  holding  our  position  for  some  time,  the  firing  of  the  enemy 

was  so  severe  that  we  were  compelled  to  retreat, 
This  we  did  slowly,  paying  back  shot  for  shot. 

"We  had  retreated  to  a  place  of  comparative 
safety,  when  I  noticed  that  my  comrade,  R.  B. 
Wilson,  was  missing,  having  been  wounded  or 
killed  in  the  retreat.  My  captain  called  for  some 
one  to  volunteer  to  assist  him  in  bringing  Wilson 
off  the  field.  I  volunteered,  and  we  started  for 
the  late  scene  of  action. 

"Not  knowing  exactly  where  he  had  fallen, 
we  spent  some  time  in  searching  for  him.  At 
last  we  found  him  and  started  with  him  for  our 
lines.  While  we  had  been  looking  for  him  the 
enemy  had  completely  surrounded  us  and  cut  off 
our  escape.  I  tried  to  attract  their  attention  so 
that  the  captain  could  manage  to  escape,  and  in 
so  doing  was  shot  in  the  left  groin,  received  a 
pretty  severe  scratch  across  both  legs,  and  a  buckshot  wound  in  the  belt. 

"I  fell,  and  was  immediately  taken  prisoner,  but  the  next  day,  when  they 
found  I  was  unable  to  walk  I  was  let  out  on  parole.  I  managed  to  return  to 
my  company,  then  at  Harrison's  Landing." 


JOHN   H.   HAIGHT, 

Sergeant,  Co.  G,  72d  New  York  Infantry. 
Born  at  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  July  1,  1841. 


"ON  AUGUST  27,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Bristow  Station,  I  was  suffering  greatly 
from  a  severe  carbuncle  on  my  neck.  On  this  account  I  was  ordered  to  the 
rear  before  the  battle  commenced.  From  my  dreary  position  I  could  hear  the 


—  29  — 


distant  rattle  of  musketry,  and  longed  to  be  with  my  comrades.  Soon  I  began 
to  formulate  schemes  whereby  I  could  rejoin  my  regiment.  I  gave  this  up  and 
decided  simply  to  forget  my  orders  and  join  my  company.  Here  I  fought  until 
the  battle  was  over.  wrhen  I  fainted  and  had  to  be  carried  from  the  field."  • 


SERGEANT  JOHN  H.  HAIGHT,  who  relates  the  above  two  stories,  also  partici 
pated  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  or  Manassas,  on  the  29th  of  August, 
1863.  The  company,  to  which  he  belonged,  was  flanked  and  compelled  to 
fall  back  upon  the  main  body  of  the  brigade.  When  the  retreat  had  been  com 
pleted  the  captain  called  for  volunteers  to  rescue  any  wounded  that  wTould 
otherwise  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates.  Sergeant  Haight  and  two 
others  immediately  volunteered  for  the  service.  They  advanced  towards  the 
enemy's  lines  under  a  heavy  fire,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  out  Private  Plumb 
and  several  others  whose  names  are  not  known. 


A  BOLD  STROKE 


M 


AY  5,  1862,  Captain  George  W.  Mindil,  of  Company  C,  Sixty-first  Penn 
sylvania  Infantry,  distinguished  himself  for  conspicuous  gallantry  while  aide 
on  General  Kearney's  staff.  His  heroism  was  also  rewarded  with  a  colonelcy,  he 
being  at  the  time  only  nineteen  years  old. 

At  Williamsburg  Captain  Mindil's  position  as  aide  gave  him  considerable  free 
dom  of  action,  and  realizing  that  a  bold  stroke  was  necessary,  he  organized  and 
led  a  desperate  charge,  with  a  battalion  of  the  Fortieth  New  York. 

In  the  face  of  a  terrific  fire  from  the  enemy's  infantry  and  artillery,  which 
was  doing  great  destruction  in  the  Federal  ranks,  this  young  officer  led  his  men 
into  the  very  midst  of  the  rebel  force,  pierced  their  center,  silenced  some  of 
their  guns,  and,  getting  in  their  rear,  forced  them  to  abandon  their  position. 


—  30  — 


FIRED  THE   BRIDGE 


WILLIAM   TAYLOR, 

Sergeant,  Co.  H,  1st  Maryland  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 


WILLIAM  TAYLOR'S  military  career  is  distinguished  by  two  most  daring   deeds 
The  first  of  these  was  the  burning  of  a  bridge  at  Front  Royal,  Va.,  May  23, 
1862,  where  a  detachment  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  force  fell  upon  and  routed  a 

body  of  General  Banks',  with  a  loss  of  904 
men.  Taylor,  in  company  with  another  man, 
volunteered  to  rush  forward,  in  the  face  of  a 
deadly  fire  from  the  enemy,  and  destroy  this 
bridge  to  prevent  the  rebels  from  crossing. 
The  rush  was  made  in  safety,  although  shot 
flew  all  around  them,  until  they  neared  the 
place  where  they  were  to  fire  the  bridge.  Here 
Taylor's  companion  was  killed,  and  he  himself 
severely  wounded  in  the  right  hand.  Neverthe 
less  he  succeeded  in  firing  the  bridge  and  so 
prevented  an  attack  by  the  Confederates. 

His  second  notable  adventure  took  place  at 
the  Weldon  Railroad,  Va.,  August  19,  1864,  after 
he  had  been  promoted  a  lieutenant.     About  this 
Captain  Taylor  says : 
"On    the    evening    of    August    19,    during    a    heavy    rain,   the   rebels   charged 
with  a  yell.     Our  brigade  was  on  the  extreme  left,  with  the  brigade  of  regulars 
on  our  right,  who  broke   and   ran.     A  little  later   the  rebels   retreated,  and  we 
held  the  ground  until  the  regulars  were  brought  back. 

"That  night  a  regiment  of  our  brigade  was  sent  out  on  picket  line,  which 
they  left  and  came  into  camp,  through  some  misunderstanding.  It  was  reported 
to  General  Warren,  who  sent  an  order  to  Acting  Brigadier-General  Dushain  to 
send  an  officer  and  a  few  men  to  find  connections  of  the  rebel  picket  line.  I 
volunteered  and  took  two  men  with  me. 

"It  was  a  dark,  rainy  night.  On  the  way  we  ran  foul  of  two  men  whom  we  mis 
took  for  rebels,  and  made  prisoners.  They  turned  out  to  be  officers  of  our  division. 
"We  found  the  picket  line  and  came  back,  and  finding  Colonel  Wilson  about 
to  start  with  the  regiment,  I  took  the  right  and  made  connections  with  the 
picket  line.  I  was  then  detailed,  with  Captain  McClellan  of  General  Ayres'  staff, 
with  sixteen  men  and  a  sergeant,  to  reconnoiter  the  enemy's  position.  Leaving 
the  men  inside  our  lines,  Captain  McClellan,  the  sergeant  and  I  got  through 
the  enemy's  lines,  and  close  to  a  house,  where  Heath,  the  rebel  general,  had  his 
headquarters.  The  captain  and  I  started  to  return  to  our  men,  leaving  the  ser 
geant  behind,  but  were  captured  on  the  way,  the  sergeant  being  taken  shortly  after. 


—  31  — 


DESTROYING  THE  BRIDGE  AT   FRONT   ROYAL,  VA. 


—  32  — 

"We  were  sent  to  Petersburg  the  next  day,  and  from  there  to  Richmond,  and 
remained  in  Libby  Prison  about  two  months,  until  Fort  Harrison,  some  four 
miles  below,  was  taken.  Later  on  I  managed  to  escape  in  company  with  two 
other  officers.  The  hardships  that  we  had  to  undergo  to  reach  our  freedom 
would  be  interesting  enough,  but  they  do  not  belong  to  the  incidents  for  which 
I  received  my  Medal  of  Honor." 


WITH  AN  EMPTY  GUN 


PRIVATE  DELANO  J.  MOREY,  Co.  B,  82d  Ohio  Infantry,  a  native  of   Licking   Co., 
Ohio,  gives   the    following  interesting  account   of  his   capture   of  two   rebel 
sharpshooters : 

"When  our  regiment  left  Moorefield,  Va.,  where  we  had  been  encamped 
all  winter,  and  was  ordered  to  re-enforce  General  Milroy.  a  detail  of  fifty 
men,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  was  sent  out  to  look  for  bushwhackers,  who 
infested  the  woods.  After  traveling  over  fifty  miles  of  the  roughest  roads,  we  re 
joined  our  regiment  at  McDowell  on  the  8th  of  May,  1862,  hungry  as  wolves,  but 
supplied  with  a  few  choice  specimens  of  poultry,  which  we  had  incidentally  taken 
prisoners  of  war.  These  some  of  us  were  eating  with  all  the  ardor  of  hungry 
men.  when  the  report  of  the  pickets'  guns  aroused  us,  and  as  this  was  to  be  our 
first  battle  our  chickens  were  left  behind  in  our  anxiety  to  have  a  brush  with 
the  enemy.  But  oh!  had  we  known  the  strength  and  numbers  of  the  enemy,  we 
should  have  been  reluctant  to  attack  them;  but,  eager  for  a  fight,  we  advanced 
on  Bull  Pasture  Mountain.  We  engaged  them  at  this  point,  and  in  the  midst 
of  the  roar  of  battle  came  the  erroneous  order  to  fix  bayonets  and  charge 
them.  About  150  of  us,  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  line,  from  which  the  order 
emanated,  fixed  our  bayonets  and  charged  the  enemy  down  in  the  valley.  Down 
the  mountain  side  we  went,  to  within  about  a  hundred  yards  from  them,  when 
they  opened  fire  on  us  which  was  too  high,  and  not  a  man  was  touched.  We 
in  turn  emptied  a  volley  into  them,  when  we  found  to  our  surprise  that  our 
150  men  were  charging  about  4,000  of  the  enemy.  No  sooner  were  we  aware 
of  this  fact  than  a  hasty  retreat  was  made  up  the  mountain  side,  but  I,  noting 
two  of  the  enemy  some  little  distance  from  me,  left  the  retreating  men  and 
made  for  the  two  sharpshooters  with  the  intention  of  capturing  them.  When 
they  saw  me  coming  on  the  full  run  they  hastened  to  load  their  guns,  but  I 
was  a  little  too  quick  for  them.  I  leveled  my  empty  gun  at  them  and  ordered 
them  to  surrender,  which  they  promptly  did,  and  I  led  the  captives  to  my  cap 
tain.  I  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  each  of  my  prisoners  was  old  enough  to  be 
my  father." 


Painted  by  Paul  H'i/liehni 


THE  BATTLE  OF  SHILOH 


—  35  — 


A  YOUNGSTER'S  HEROISM 


WM.  H. 
HORSFALL, 

Drummer, 

Co.  G,  1st 

Ken  tucky 

Vol.  Inf. 

Born  in 

Campbell 

Co.,  Ky., 

March  3,  1848. 


"  r  LEFT  home  without  money  or  a  warning  to 
1  my  parents,"  writes  William  Horsfall  "and  in 
company  with  three  other  boys,  stealthily  boarded 
the  steamer  '  Annie  Laurie,'  moored  at  the  Cin 
cinnati  wharf  at  Newport  and  billed  for  the 
Kanawha  River  that  evening,  about  the  20th  of 
December,  1861.  When  the  bell  rang  for  the  de 
parture  of  the  boat,  my  boy  companions,  having 
a  change  of  heart,  ran  ashore  before  the  plank 
was  hauled  aboard,  and  wanted  me  to  do  the 
same.  I  kept  in  hiding  until  the  boat  was 
well  under  way  and  then  made  bold 
enough  to  venture  on  deck.  I  was  accosted 
by  the  captain  of  the  boat  as  to  my  destination,  etc.,  and  telling  him  the  old 
orphan-boy  story,  I  was  treated  very  kindly,  given  something  to  eat,  and  allowed 
very  liberal  privileges. 

"  I  arrived  at  Cincinnati  without  further  incident,  and  enlisted  as  a  drummer- 
boy. 

"In  the  fighting  before  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  21,  1862  —  Nelson's  Brigade  engaged 
-my  position  was  to  the  right  of  the  First  Kentucky,  as  an  independent  sharp 
shooter.  The  regiment  had  just  made  a  desperate  charge  across  the  ravine.  Cap 
tain  Williamson  was  wounded  in  the  charge,  and,  in  subsequent  reversing  of 
positions,  was  left  between  the  lines.  Lieutenant  Hocke,  approaching  me,  said  : 
'Horsfall,  Captain  Williamson  is  in  a  serious  predicament;  rescue  him  if  possible.' 
So  I  placed  my  gun  against  a  tree,  and,  in  a  stooping  run,  gained  his  side  and 
dragged  him  to  the  stretcher  bearers,  who  took  him  to  the  rear." 

Drummer  Horsfall  was  on  all  the  subsequent  marches  of  his  regiment.  During 
the  famous  charge  at  Stone  River  he  presently  found  himself  hemmed  in  by  rebel 
horsemen  and  hostile  infantry.  Even  the  rebels  took  pity  on  his  youth  and  one  of 
them  shouted:  "Don't  shoot  the  damned  little  Yank!  I  want  him  for  a  cage." 
The  plucky  little  drummer  made  a  run  for  his  life  and  safely  got  back  to  his 
regiment. 


During  the  Siege  of  Corinth  a  Union  force  30,000  strong,  under  General  Pope,  occupied  Hamburg 
Landing  five  miles  above  Pittsburg,  where  General  Halleck  was  in  full  command.  The  movement  against 
Corinth  was  made  on  the  30th  of  April.  There  was  little  or  no  active  engagement.  Beauregard  evacuated 
the  town  on  the  26th  of  May  and  the  Union  Army  took  possession  on  the  30th. 


—  36  — 


AGAINST  A  SUPERIOR  FORCE 


B 


RUFUS    SAXTON, 

Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  V. 
Highest  rank  attained  :Bvt.  Maj-Gen.,  U.S.V. 
Born  at  Greenfield,  Mass.,  Oct.  19, 1824. 


,  RIGADIER-GENERAL   RUFUS    SAXTON   reports,  re 
garding   the   action   of    his   brigade   between 
May  26  and  30,  1862,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.: 

"  I  assumed  command  of  the  forces  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  May  26,  1862,  occupying  Bolivar  Heights 
with  my  troops,  and  Maryland  Heights  with  the 
naval  battery.  On  the  same  evening  I  sent  two 
companies  of  the  First  Maryland  regiment,  under 
Major  Steiner,  to  make  reconnoissance  of  London 
Heights,  where,  it  was  reported,  the  enemy  were 
in  position. 

"  They  were  fired  upon  while  ascending,  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  by  dismounted 
rebel   cavalry   concealed   in    the   bushes   on    both 
sides  of  the  road.     The  fire  was  returned,  but  with  what  effect  is  not  known. 

"On  Wednesday  I  shelled  the  Heights,  compelling  the  enemy  to  retire,  as 
was  proved  by  subsequent  reconnoissance.  Our  cavalry  drove  the  enemy  out  of 
Charleston,  but  they  were  almost  immediately  re-enforced,  and,  opening  fire  from 
a  battery  of  nine  guns,  compelled  our  force  to  retire.  A  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  was  seen  occasionally  emerging  from  a  point  of  the  woods  about  two 
miles  distant.  Our  guns  shelled  the  woods  in  front,  but  the  enemy  made  no  re 
sponse,  and  seemed  from  their  movements,  desirous  of  drawing  us  from  our  po 
sition. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  29th  the  Fiftieth  New  York  Cavalry  was  sent  out  to 
reconnoiter,  and  was  fired  upon  by  the  enemy's  infantry  and  artillery.  A  body 
was  seen  stationed  in  the  woods  in  a  position  to  cover  the  battery.  Having  ac 
complished  their  object,  our  cavalry  returned. 

"About  midnight  General  Cooper's  Brigade  was  set  in  motion,  and,  by  daylight, 
had  succeeded  in  crossing  the  river  and  occupying  the  banks  on  the  Maryland 
side.  General  Clough's  Brigade  at  the  same  time  fell  back  to  a  new  position  on 
Camp  Hill,  and  when  morning  dawned,  our  batteries,  supported  by  a  heavy  force  of 
infantry,  were  in  a  position  to  command  all  the  approaches  on  our  front  and  flanks. 
"On  Friday  morning  Major  Gardner,  with  the  Fifty-fifth  New  York  Cavalry, 
was  sent  to  the  front  to  feel  the  enemy's  position  and  watch  his  movements. 
He  was  later  in  the  day  re-enforced  by  a  piece  of  artillery  and  two  hundred 
sharpshooters.  The  enemy  opened  fire  on  him  with  scattering  volleys  of  mus 
ketry  along  his  whole  front.  The  first  discharge  of  grape  from  one  piece  caused 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  to  fall  back  in  disorder. 


—  37  — 


AT   HARPER'S  FERRY 


—  38  — 

"  About  dark  Friday  evening,  in  a  heavy  storm,  General  Clough  opened  upon  the 
enemy,  who  was  advancing  upon  Camp  Hill  with  three  batteries.  The  scene  at 
this  time  was  very  impressive.  The  night  was  intensely  dark,  the  hills  around 
were  alive  with  the  signal  lights  of  the  enemy;  the  rain  descended  in  torrents, 
vivid  flashes  of  lightning  illumined  at  intervals  the  magnificent  scenery,  while 
the  crash  of  thunder,  echoing  among  the  mountains,  drowned  into  comparative 
insignificance  the  roar  of  artillery.  After  an  action  of  an  hour's  duration  the 
enemy  retired.  He  made  another  unsuccessful  attack  at  midnight  with  regiments 
of  Mississippi  and  Louisiana  Infantry,  and,  after  a  short  engagement  disappeared. 
Signal  lights  continued  to  be  seen  in  every  direction.  On  Saturday  morning  I 
sent  out  a  reconnoissance  and  found  that  the  whole  rebel  force,  estimated  at 
20,000  or  25,000  strong,  had  retired,  and  that  we  had  successfully  held  our  po 
sition  and  repulsed  his  several  attacks  with  less  than  7,000  effective  men." 


HE  WAVED  HIS  SHATTERED  ARM 


THE  fiercest  fighting  at  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks  occurred  on  June  1  —  a  Sunday. 
It  was  a  fight  which   taxed   the  bravery 
of  every  Union  officer  and  soldier.     Many 
a  deed  of  bravery  and  daring  can  be  re 
corded  from  that  memorable  struggle,  but 
none  more  noteworthy,  than  that  which 
will  ever  connect  the  name  of  General 
0.  0.  Howard  with  the  history   of  that 
battle.     His   conduct   distinguished   it 
self   above   that   of    all    others    and  will 
always  furnish  an  illustrious  example  of 
American  bravery. 

The  battle  began  at  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning.     The  rebels  with  undaunted 

courage  withstood  the  deadly  charge  of  the  Federal  troops.  General  Howard,  who 
commanded  a  brigade,  led  four  of  his  regiments  on  the  right  wing  of  the  Union 
Army,  one  regiment  in  the  first  line,  the  remaining  three  in  the  second  line.  As 
sisted  by  eighteen  pieces  of  Meagher's  Artillery,  he  advanced  and  was  met  by  the 
superior  numbers  of  the  enemy.  The  clash  was  fearful.  For  an  hour  and  a  half  a 
tremendous  struggle  for  supremacy  ensued.  The  general  was  omnipresent.  He 
was  in  the  thickest  of  the  battle.  Wherever  the  danger  was  greatest,  there  he 
was,  inspiring  and  animating  his  men. 


OLIVER   0.  HOWARD, 

Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  A.    Highest  rank  attained:  Major- 
General,  U.  S.  A.    Born  at  Leeds,  Me.,  Nov.  8,  1830. 


—  39  — 


Twice  his  horse  was  shot  from  under  him.  Finally  a  bullet  struck  and  shattered 
his  right  arm.  Waving  the  fractured  limb  high  above  him,  he  aroused  his  soldiers 
to  still  greater  ardor  and  enthusiasm.  Such  heroic  fighting  the  enemy  could  not 
withstand.  They  fled.  General  Howard  was  carried  to  the  rear  by  his  admiring 
soldiers.  The  brave  leader's  arm  was  amputated;  but  he  again  went  to  the  front, 
as  soon  as  he  had  recovered  from  the  operation  and  continued  on  his  career  of  un 
dying  fame. 


THOUGH    WOUNDED,    REMAINED    AT   HIS   POST 


"  T  WAS  engaged  with  the  pioneers  of  the  bri- 
1  gade  on  the  31st  of  May,  1862,  in  con 
structing  a  bridge  across  the  Chickahominy 
River.  An  attack  of  the  Confederates  on  our 
extreme  left,  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the 
Chickahominy,  caused  the  Second  Corps  to  be 
thrown  across  the  river  immediately  after 
twelve  o'clock  noon,  and  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks  began  soon  after. 

"As  my  services  were  not  necessary  at 
the  bridge,  I  took  half  of  my  command  -  of 
forty-five  men.  and  proceeded  to  the  head  of 
the  brigade,  reaching  it  just  as  it  was  about 
to  engage  the  enemy.  I  was  directed  by 
General  Dana  to  proceed  across  an  open  field 
in  front  of  an  advancing  rebel  regiment,  which 
I  did,  arriving  at  the  point  designated  with 
only  four  out  of  a  party  of  twenty-two  men. 
eighteen  having  been  killed  or  wounded  within 
a  couple  of  minutes. 

"The  adjutant  of  the  regiment  to   which   I   belonged,  the   Seventh   Michigan 
Infantry,    was,    about    this    time,    dangerously    wounded    and    incapacitated    for 


WM.  R.  SHAFTER, 

1st  Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  7th  Michigan  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:   Major-General,  U.  S.  A. 

Born  at  Galesburg,  Mich.,  Oct.  16, 1835. 


Fair  Oaks. —  On  the  30th  of  May,  1862,  the  right  wing  of  the  Union  Army  rested  near  New  Bridge,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  the  center  at  Seven  Pines,  and  the  left  on  the  White  Oak  Swamp.  Gen 
eral  Simmer's  Corps  remained  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  force  was  under  command  of  General 
McClellan. 

The  efforts  of  General  Johnston,  the  Confederate  commander,  were  directed  chiefly  against  the  left 
wing,  where  Heintzelman's  and  Keyes'  Divisions  were  placed.  The  Union  position  was  supported  at  this 
point  by  General  Kearney,  Berry's  Brigade,  and  an  Irish  Battalion,  and  was  held  in  spite  of  repeated  assaults 
in  force.  The  arrival  of  General  Simmer's  Corps  decided  the  day  in  favor  of  the  Federals. 

Fighting  was  resumed  on  the  following  day  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  ceased  about  midday 
with  the  retreat  of  the  enemy. 

The  Union  loss  was  5,739;  the  Confederate,  7,997. 

It  was  in  this  battle  that  General  Johnston,  the  Confederate  commander,  was  disabled,  and  relieved 
by  General  Lee. 


—  40  — 

further  service,  whereupon  I  was  directed  by  Major  Richardson,  who  com 
manded  the  regiment  that  afternoon,  to  assume  the  duties  of  regimental  ad 
jutant,  which  I  did. 

'•Just  at  the  close  of  the  battle,  about  half  an  hour  later,  my  horse  was 
shot  from  under  me  and  I  was  wounded,  a  severe  flesh  wound,  but  as  no  bones 
were  hit,  my  injuries  were  not  considered  dangerous.  I  was  perfectly  able  to 
remain  in  the  field,  and  did  so  during  the  fight  of  the  next  day.  In  order  to 
escape  being  sent  north  with  the  wounded,  I  went  to  the  rear  of  the  command 
and  remained  there  for  two  or  three  days  until  the  wounded  had  all  been  sent 


IN   FRONT  OF  AN   ADVANCING   REBEL  REGIMENT 

away,  and  I  then  returned  to  my  regiment.  I  was  unable  to  ride  a  horse,  and 
was  confined  to  my  couch  and  there  performed  the  duties  of  adjutant,  so  far 
as  the  office  part  of  the  work  was  concerned. 

"At  the  change  of  base  I  had  the  choice  of  being  left  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy  or  mounting  my  horse  and  going  with  our  troops,  and  although  riding 
horseback  in  my  then  wounded  condition  was  very  painful,  T  adopted  the  latter 
alternative,  and  was  with  the  regiment  in  all  of  the  seven  days'  battles  sub 
sequent." 

General  Shafter,  who  gives  this  account  of  his  services  at  Fair  Oaks, 
voluntarily  went  with  half  of  his  little  band  into  the  battle,  when  his  pioneer 


—  41  — 


work  gave  him  a  satisfactory  reason  for  remaining  at  the  grapevine  bridge,  in 
stead  of  engaging  in  the  gallant  charge  of  his  regiment,  and  remained  in 
action  for  twenty-four  hours  after  receiving  a  bullet  wound.  His  intelligent 
energy  and  activity  during  the  battle,  and  his  example  of  soldierly  heroism,  had 
an  effect  on  the  men.  to  which  a  great  share  of  their  success  may  be  credited. 


HEROIC  RESCUE  OF  TWO  FLAGS 


W.  H.  PURCELL, 

Sergeant,  Co.  G,  104th  I'enii.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Upper  Black  Eddy.  Buck  Co.,  Pa., 

Aug.  1, 1837. 


THE  One  hundred  and  fourth  Pennsylvania 
Infantry  had  been  under  fire  for  an  hour 
and  a  half  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  and  a 
large  number  of  the  men  had  fallen.  The  fight 
ing  line  had  been  maintained  unusually  well, 
and  the  men  fought  more  like  veterans  of  a 
hundred  battles  than  recruits  under  fire  for 
almost  the  first  time.  The  enemy  was  pressing 
them  in  front  and  flank,  and  his  fire  had  be 
come  so  warm  as  to  endanger  the  battery  they 
were  supporting.  He  approached  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  right.  At  this  crisis,  a  charge 
was  ordered  in  the  hope  of  checking  his  advance. 
The  One  hundred  and  fourth  had  no  expectation 
of  crossing  bayonets  with  the  rebels,  but  hoped 
to  gain  time.  The  men  were  ordered  to  cease  firing  and  fix  bayonets,  which 
was  done  with  great  promptness,  considering  their  excited  condition.  The  com 
mand  was  given:  "  Charge  bayonets,  forward,  double-quick,  march !"  and  the  men 
sprang  toward  the  enemy  with  a  tremendous  yell. 

They  advanced  about  a  hundred  yards  over  a  piece  of  ground  covered  with 
dwarf  bushes.  In  the  way  was  an  old  worn  fence  that  had  not  been  observed  be 
fore,  which  cut  the  old  line  of  battle  at  an  angle  of  about  thirty  degrees.  The  men 
sprang  over  this  obstacle  into  the  clearing  where  the  enemy  stood,  and  immedi 
ately  began  to  reform  and  open  fire.  Both  flags  were  carried  over  the  fence  by 
the  bearers.  This  movement  had  the  desired  effect.  It  was  foolhardy  under  the 
circumstances,  but  it  staggered  the  enemy,  and  the  heavy  fire  checked  him  at 
once.  It  soon  became  apparent  that  the  regiment  must  relinquish  the  ground 
unless  re-enforced,  and  Lieutenant  Ashenfelder  was  dispatched  across  to  the 
Williamsburg  road  to  request  General  Casey  to  send  support.  The  general  sent 
word  to  hold  out  a  few  minutes  longer,  when  re-enforcements  would  be  sent. 

It  must  be  understood  that,  at  this  time,  the  One  hundred  and  fourth  Penn 
sylvania  was  engaged  single-handed,  in  front  of  the  line  of  the  army,  with  a 


-42  — 


greatly  superior  force.  Three  hours  had  now  elapsed  since  the  regiment  had 
gone  into  action,  and  more  than  one-third  of  the  men  had  fallen.  The  promised 
re-enforcements  did  not  arrive,  and  they  could  hold  out  no  longer.  There  was 
no  order  given  to  retire,  but  they  were  literally  pushed  back  by  the  superior 
force  of  the  enemy  pressing  against  them.  Individual  soldiers  on  either  side 
came  almost  near  enough  to  strike  each  other  with  the  musket.  The  regiment 
retired  slowly  and  sullenly,  not  an  officer  or  man  running. 

In  the  excitement  and  confusion  of  retiring,  one   flag  was   left   on   the   other 
side  of  the  fence,  the  staff  sticking  in  the  ground,  and  the  enemy  made   a   bold 


THE  FLAG  WAS  LEFT  ON  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OF  THE  FENCE 

effort  to  capture  it.  Color-Sergeant  Purcell  had  already  secured  his  own  standard, 
and,  with  it  in  his  hands,  he  jumped  over  the  fence  and  seized  the  other.  The 
enemy  saw  the  movement,  and  five  of  their  men  rushed  forward  at  the  same 
time,  still  keeping  up  their  fire.  Purcell  reached  it  first,  seized  the  staff,  and 
sprang  for  the  fence  with  both  flags  in  his  hands.  As  he  mounted  the  fence  he 
was  struck  by  a  bullet  in  the  left  thigh  and  fell,  carrying  the  colors  with  him. 
Getting  to  his  feet  again  he  ran  about  500  yards,  handed  one  flag  to  Sergeant 
Myers,  and  started  for  the  rear  with  the  other,  but,  becoming  faint  from  the 
loss  of  blood,  he  gave  it  to  Corporal  Mitchner  and  fell  exhausted  on  the  field, 
having  received  two  slight  wounds  in  the  arm  and  neck.  He  was  rescued  by 
General  Casey's  bugler,  Israel  Stidinger,  who  took  him  on  his  horse  to  Savage 
Station. 

The  flags  were  brought  off  the  field  in   safety,  and  delivered  to  the  regiment 
after  the  battle. 


—  43  — 


AT  THE  RISK  OF  HIS  LIFE 


JOHN   C.  HUNTERSON, 
Private,  Co.  B,  3d  Pa.  Cavalry. 


ABOUT  June  5,  1862,  a  few  days  after  the  battle 
of  Fair  Oaks,  John  C.  Hunterson,  then  a 
private  in  Co.  B,  Third  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  on 
duty  as  one  of  the  escort  of  two  to  an  engineer 
officer,  accompanied  him  on  an  reconnoissance 
between  the  lines  of  the  two  armies  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  best  available  posi 
tion  for  earthworks.  This  party  was  discovered 
and  fired  upon  by  the  enemy. 

The  horse  of  the  engineer  officer  was  killed, 
and  the  second  person  in  escort  hurriedly  returned 
to  our  lines.  This  placed  the  officer  in  a  most 
exasperating  position.  Here  he  had,  at  great  per 
sonal  peril,  approached  the  enemy's  lines,  surveyed  the  topography  of  the  battle 
field,  made  valuable  sketches  and  drawings,  and  now,  at  the  very  last  moment, 
found  himself  deprived  of  the  means  to  carry  the  information  obtained  to  his 

superior  officers!     Hunterson  keenly  appreciated  the  situa 
tion.     He  realized  that  the  engineers  life  was  of  the 
greatest  value  to  his  army  and  his  noble  impulse 
quickly     made    him     reach   a    conclusion.     He 
voluntarily    gave     up     his    mount    to     the 
officer,  enabling  .him  to  escape  with  the 
important   plans  and   drawings  which 
were  upon  his  person. 

Hunterson  effected  his 
escape,  and  at  once  reported 
to  General  Dickinson,  then 
the  assistant  adjutant-gen 
eral  of  Hookers  Division, 
who  investigated  and  veri 


fied  the  incident.  The  act 
is  worthy  of  special  note  as 
an  exhibition  of  exceptional 
daring  and  devotion  to  duty. 
In  giving  up  his  horse  in  a 
desperate  emergency,  Hun 
terson  reduced  his  own 
chance  of  escape  to  a  min 
imum,  entirely  losing  sight  of  his  own  welfare  in  his  zeal  for  the  safety  of  his 
superior  officer  and  the  interests  of  his  country. 


—  44  — 


MUD    BATHS    FOR    FUTURE    GOOD    HEALTH 


o 


DEWITT   C.    LEWIS, 

Captain,  Co.  F,  97th  Penn.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Bvt. 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  at  West  Chester,  Chester 

Co.,  Penn.,  July  30,  1822. 


N  JUNE  15,  1862,  the  enemy,  having  secured  the 
range  of  our  camps  from  Fort  Lamar,  opened  on 
them  with  shell,  making  it  quite  lively  for  us.  General 
Benham,  then  in  command  of  the  Union  troops,  resolved 
to  make  an  assault  on  the  fort  on  the  morning  of  the 
16th,  at  daybreak.  The  attack  was  made  by  General 
Stevens'  Division,  which  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of 
about  600  men*  Our  brigade  commander,  Colonel  Robert 
Williams  of  the  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  was  ordered 
to  advance  two  of  his  regiments,  the  Ninety-seventh 
Pennsylvania  and  the  Third  New  Hampshire,  to  sup 
port  the  assault. 

"It  was  low  tide  and  we  forced  our  way  through 
a  thicket,  or  hedge,  finding  ourselves  in  a  swamp,  and 
under  fire  from  the  fort.  But  we  drove  the  enemy's 

advance  back  to  the  fort,  and  located  ourselves  along  the  embankment  about 
200  yards  from  the  enemy's  works.  We  were  able,  at  that  distance,  to  effec 
tually  keep  them  from  using  their  guns  on  two  sides  of  the  works. 

"About  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  re-enforcements  for  the  enemy  commenced  to  ar 
rive  by  way  of  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad.  Their  artillery  went  in 
to  position  on  the  ridge  and  rendered  our  position  untenable  by  enfilading  our 
line.  The  order  was  given  to  retire,  and  we  commenced  falling  back  towards 
the  swamp  we  had  crossed  at  daylight.  As  soon  as  we  left  the  embankment 
the  field  artillery  and  fort  opened  on  us  with  canister  at  about  250  yards' 
range.  When  we  reached  the  swamp  the  tide  was  well  up  and  the  place  was 
a  slimy,  oozy  mass  of  mud,  which  the  "Johnnies"  were  stirring  up  with 
canister  and  round  shot  for  all  they  were  worth,  and  making  it  unfit  to  swim 
in  or  to  drink.  After  a  severe  struggle  I  landed  on  the  far  side  from  the 
enemy,  as  a  matter  of  choice  and  necessity,  assisting  a  number  of  comrades, 


In  June,  1862,  General  Benham  attempted  to  reach  Charleston  by  the  Stono  River.  The  Union  force 
crossed  over  to  James  Island  on  the  9th.  Assaults  were  made  upon  a  fort  which  the  Confederates  had 
erected  at  Secessionville  during  the  week  following.  The  attack  on  June  16  was  a  dismal  failure,  the 
Federals  being  compelled  to  fall  back  losing  500  men  killed  and  wounded. 


—  45  — 


whose  heads  were  covered   with   mud,  when    their   feet   reached   the   bottom.     I 
suppose  they  were  dodging  the  canister.     We  were  very  good  at  that. 

"I  landed,  tired,  disgusted,  and  dreadfully  covered  with  mud,  and  was  trying 
to  find  out  where  I  was  located  in  the  mass  of  filth,  when  I  beared  a  faint  call 
that  sounded  thick  and  muddy.  Looking  back  over  the  ground  and  water,  I 
saw  a  head  pop  up  above  the  sticky  mass  about  one-third  of  the  way  back, 
and  I  felt  satisfied  that  some  poor  fellow  was  having  trouble  and  was  in  need 
of  prompt  assistance.  The  prospect  was  not  inviting,  with  the  shot  fiying 


RETURNING  TO   RESCUE  A  COMRADE 

about,  but  there  was  no  time  to  think,  so  I  drew  off  my  accoutrements,  plunged 
in  and  got  him  to  the  shore,  both  of  us  thoroughly  exhausted,  and  found  him 
to  be  one  of  my  own  men." 

Colonel  Lewis,  who  writes  this  account  of  his  adventure  at  Fort  Lamar, 
was  present  at  the  Mine  Explosion  at  Petersburg,  Va.  When  the  attack  was 
made  upon  the  rebels,  after  the  explosion,  he  was  directly  behind  the  major  of 
the  Forty-eighth  New  York,  whose  head  was  blown  off,  the  bloody  fragments 
striking  him  in  the  face.  Soon  after,  his  bravery  and  kindheartedness  were 
again  called  forth  by  the  misfortune  of  one  of  the  men  of  his  company  who 
was  wounded  on  the  retreat.  In  the  face  of  an  awful  storm  of  bullets,  Colonel 
Lewis  returned  to  the  wounded  man  and  carried  him  off  the  field  to  a  place 
of  safety. 


—  46  — 


FOUR  CHARGES  WITH  A  SHATTERED  ARM 


WHEN    the    Seventh   Connecticut   Infantry  was   storming   Fort    Lamar,  James 
Island,  S.  C.,  at   daybreak   June   16,    1862,    Sergeant   Jackson  was  in  com 
mand   of   Company   F.      He  was   struck   abovre   the   elbow  with    a   canister   shot 

from  an  eight-inch 
columbiad,  and  his  left 
arm  was  shattered. 
With  his  right  hand 
Jackson  seized  his  splin 
tered  arm,  pressed  it 
tightly  to  prevent,  as 
much  as  possible,  the 
flow  of  blood,  and 
dashed  forward  with 
his  men.  The  regiment 
retired,  rallied  again, 
and  went  forward  on 
the  second  charge,  only 
to  be  again  repulsed. 
Once  more  the  regi 
ment  rallied,  and  in 
this  charge,  Sergeant 
Jackson  fell,  fainting 
from  the  loss  of  blood. 
He  lay  on  the  field 
from  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  half-past 
ten  at  night,  only  a 
hundred  feet  from  the 
fort,  neither  Federals 
nor  Confederates  dar 
ing  to  succor  their 
wounded,  so  fierce  was 
the  firing.  During  more  than  seventeen  hours  he  remained  unable  to  move,  all 
the  while  exposed  to  the  fire  from  the  Union  forces,  but  too  near  the  fort  to  be 
in  range  of  the  enemy's  missiles. 

Referring  to  this  part  of  his  experience,  he  writes  : 

"  Of  the  fourteen  comrades  who  came  under  the  Confederate  surgeon's 
knife  as  prisoners,  only  myself  and  one  other  lived  to  reach  home.  I  was  put 
under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  and,  when  I  became  conscious  again,  discov- 


FREDERICK  R. 
JACKSON, 

1st  Serg't.,  Co.  F., 

7th  Conn.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Major,  U.  S.  V. 
Born  at  New  Haven,  Conn. 


—  47  — 

ered  two  surgeon's  knives  and  another  instrument  lying  across  my  breast. 
Among  those  in  the  room  were  General  Gist,  commanding  the  Confederates, 
and  the  colonel  in  charge  of  the  fort.  On  regaining  consciousness  some  one 
asked  me: 

"'How  many  troops  have  your  forces  got?' 

"'Go  over  and  count  them,'  I  replied. 

"'We  will  go  over  and  we  shall  get  them  all.'  said  he. 

"The  surgeon  was  Doctor  Bellinger,  the  son  of  one  of  the  most  famous  sur 
geons  in  the  South  at  that  time.  He  said  to  me: 

"'The  Southern  Confederacy  is  not  abundantly  supplied  with  chloroform, 
and  will  not  throw  any  away  on  you.' 

"Before  beginning  to  amputate  my  arm,  they  divided  some  of  my  clothing 
among  themselves.  The  first  thing  taken  was  a  pair  of  new  boots  which  had 
been  sent  from  home  by  my  father.  My  uniform  was  also  disposed  of,  and  they 
gave  me  a  shabby  suit  of  clothes  in  case  I  should  ever  need  any  more.  Then 
the  surgeon  proceeded  to  cut  off  my  arm,  and,  true  to  his  word,  he  did  not 
waste  any  of  the  Southern  Confederacy's  chloroform  on  me. 

"I  was  made  acquainted  with  six  of  the  Southern  prisons,  and  was  grad 
uated  from  Libby  October  14,  1862." 


TWO  GALLANT  OFFICERS 


THE  following  story,  describing  an  important 
movement  in  the  action  at  Gaines  Mills,  Va., 
June  27,  1862,  is  written  by  a  captain  of  the 
Eighty-third  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  who  testifies 
warmly  to  the  gallant  conduct  and  able  leader 
ship  of  General  Daniel  Butterfield  and  Major 
Ernst  Von  Vegesack,  and  the  inspiriting  influence 
upon  the  men  of  their  fine  example. 

"The  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  New  York 
Volunteers,  who  were  deployed  in  the  rear  and 
on  the  heights  in  the  woods  above  us,  opening 
fire  upon  the  enemy,  the  fire  was  returned,  and  the  right  wing  of  the  Eighty- 
third,  being  more  on  a  level  and  in  view  of  the  enemy,  commenced  also  a 
heavy  fire.  The  enemy  still  approached  in  column  of  brigade,  covered  by  a 
regiment  in  line  of  battle,  but  discovering,  when  too  late,  the  position  our 
regiment  held,  precipitately  fled  back  with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and  wounded. 


DANIEL   BUTTERFIELD, 


Brigadier-General,  V.  8.  Volunteers. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Maj-Gen.,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  31, 1831. 


—  48  — 

"  At  this  moment  Brigadier-General  Butterfield,  amidst  a  gallant  fire  from  his 
line  of  support  in  the  rear,  and  that  of  the  enemy  in  front,  came  coolly  down 
the  knoll,  and,  sword  in  hand,  seized  the  colors,  waving  them  repeatedly  aloft, 
encouraging  the  valor  of  our  regiment  and  stimulating  with  new  vigor  our 
thinned  ranks.  'My  boys,'  he  shouted,  'Your  ammunition  is  never  expended 
while  you  have  your  bayonets,  and  use  them  to  the  socket ! ' 

''The  battle  at  this  juncture  raged  furiously.  The  trees  were  lopped  and  the 
leaves  fell  as  thick  as  snowflakes,  while  the  balls  flew  like  a  hailstorm,  the 
solid  shot,  grape,  canister,  and  shrapnel  scattering  destruction  in  all  directions. 
It  was  intimated  that  the  regiments  on  our  right  had  been  repulsed  and  had 
given  way  under  the  destructive  fire  of  the  enemy,  who  also  threatened  our 
right  flank  and  were  at  that  moment  gradually  gaining  the  rear.  In  this  situa 
tion  one  regiment  was  ordered  to  face  by  the  rear  rank  and  wheel  obliquely  by 
a  quarter  on  the  proper  right,  and  then  become  the  left.  This  manoeuvre  was 
rapidly  executed,  but  during  its  performance,  our  commander,  Colonel  McLane, 
was  killed,  and  Major  Nagel  mortally  wounded. 

"  The  enemy,  being  fairly  driven  from  the  woods,  as  a  last  resort  made  their 
final  stand  on  their  own  chosen  ground.  Major  Von  Vegesack,  who  was  serving 
voluntarily  as  aide,  came  galloping  along  our  lines,  and,  in  a  voice  never  to  be 
forgotten,  ordered  the  Eighty-third  to  face  by  the  right  flank,  advance,  half  to 
the  left,  thereby  still  keeping  the  rear  rank  in  front,  deep  on  the  center,  and 
again  face  the  foe.  This  cool  and  determined  move  on  the  part  of  Major  Von 
Vegesack,  which  cannot  be  too  warmly  appreciated  by  the  Eighty-third,  so  as 
tounded  the  enemy,  who  were  drawn  up  in  line  at  about  a  hundred  yards'  dis 
tance,  that  they  remained  perfectly  motionless  for  several  minutes.  They  waved 
signals,  which  we  did  not  understand,  and  finally  sent  forward  a  flag  of  truce, 
the  Eighty-third  sending  out  an  officer  to  receive  their  communications,  which 
were  to  the  effect  that  they  considered  themselves  so  powerful  that  we  had 
better  surrender. 

"This  proposition,  I  need  hardly  say,  caused  some  indignant  mirth  among  us, 
and  before  the  officers  of  the  Eighty-third,  who  bore  our  flag  of  truce,  returned 
to  the  ranks,  the  rebels,  contrary  to  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare,  poured  a 
deadly  volley  into  the  ranks  of  our  regiment.  We  fell  flat  on  the  ground,  then 
rising  to  our  knees,  returned  the  fire,  which  was  kept  up  in  the  bravest  and 
most  determined  manner  against  overwhelming  numbers,  keeping  the  enemy  at 
bay  until  dark,  when  the  total  expenditure  of  our  cartridges  caused  us  to  retreat 
across  the  Chickahominy  River." 


The  "Seven  Days'"  Battle  before  Richmond  commenced  with  the  battle  of  Oak  Grove,  on  the  25th 
of  June,  when  General  Lee's  attack  on  the  right  wing  was  made  without  decisive  results.  In  an  engagement 
at  Mechanicsville  on  the  26th,  General  Hill,  of  the  Confederate  Army,  was  repulsed,  with  considerable 
loss,  by  the  Sixth  Corps  under  Porter. 


—  49  — 


DISTINGUISHED  CONDUCT  IN  ACTION 


/->HARLES  F.  HOP- 

V--'  KINS  touches 
briefly  upon  his 
rescue  of  a  wound 
ed  comrade  in  his 
description  on  the 
action  at  Gaines 
Mills,  Va.,  but  he 
was  reported  and 
highly  praised  for 
this  act. 

''Our  regiment,  the  First  New  Jersey  Volun 
teers,  was  ordered  from  the  south  side  of  the 
Chickahominy  River  to  support  Fitz  John  Porter, 
who  was  attacked  at  that 
place,  by  'Stonewall' 
Jackson  and  Longstreet. 
determined  to  crush  our 
right  wing.  We  reached 
the  field  about  1  P.  M., 
and  were  sent  in  to  re 
lieve  the  Fourteenth  Reg 
ulars.  The  First  Michi 
gan's  right  was  turned, 
and  they  were  swept  from 
the  field  for  a  short  time. 
This  left  an  opening  by 
which  the  Fourth  New 
York  Volunteers  were  taken  prisoners,  only  about  ninety  escaping,  our  regiment 
being  compelled  to  retire  its  right.  A  similar  movement  was  taking  place  on 
the  left,  leaving  our  company  in  the  apex  of  the  angle,  thus  made. 


CHAS.  F.  HOPKINS, 

Private,  Co.  1, 1st  New  Jersey  Vols. 

Born  at  Hope,  New  Jersey, 

May  1C,  1842. 


On  the  27th  of  June  the  Fifth  Corps,  with  about  25,000  men,  was  attacked  by  a  rebel  force  of  70,000,  on 
(iaines  Mills  Heights,  and  made  a  firm  stand  until  the  cavalry  was  repulsed,  falling  back  in  disorder  on 
the  lines.  The  enemy,  pursuing  their  advantage,  had  almost  accomplished  the  destruction  of  the  corps 
when  darkness  enabled  the  Federals  to  cross  the  river. 

On  the  28th  the  general  retreat  began,  during  which  occurred  the  engagements  of  Salvage  Station. 
Glendale  (Charles City  Cross  Roads),  Peach  Orchard,  Chickahomiiiy,  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  Malvern  Hill. 

At  the  last-named  place,  on  July  1,  the  Second,  Third,  and  Sixth  Corps  occupied  a  strong  position,  pro 
tected  by  gunboats  on  the  river.  The  enemy's  attack  was  defeated  and  the  rebel  force  rendered  incapable 
of  further  pursuit.  The  Union  loss  during  the  Seven  Days'  Battle  is  estimated  at  15,249;  the  Confederate 
at  17,583. 


—  50  — 

"The  order  to  retire,  keeping  up  the  fire,  was  given  by  our  captain.  Not 
hearing  the  order,  or  unconscious  of  the  dangerous  position,  the  company  did 
not  retire  promptly,  and  the  enemy  poured  a  terrific  fire  on  us  from  every 
point  but  our  immediate  rear,  and  even  that  was  not  exempt  until  we  reached 
a  point  parallel  with  the  line  of  battle. 

"A  comrade  and  myself  were  laggards  in  retiring,  but  wrere  keeping  up  the 
fire.  Having  been  twice  wounded,  I  was  looking  for  shelter  to  cover  by  back 
ward  movement,  and,  while  moving  from  one  place  to  another  among  the 
bushes,  came  across  Sergeant  Richard  Donnelly  of  our  company,  who  was 
badly  wounded  in  the  right  leg.  I  told  him  I  would  take  him  out,  and  we 
could  both  chance  the  awful  fire  from  all  quarters.  I  got  him  on  my  back, 
and  through  that  gauntlet  of  flame  and  bullets,  made  my  way  to  the  rear  in 
safety. 

"  I  was  badly  wounded  in  the  hand  twenty  minutes  after  leaving  him,  and 
was  left  for  dead  on  the  field,  but  recovered,  and  was  taken  prisoner  the  next 
morning,  being  released  five  hoars  later  with  a  large  number  of  wounded  who 
were  able  to  walk." 


THE    DRUMMER-BOY    OF    THE 
CHICKAHOM1NY 


G 


EORGE  DALLAS  SIDMAN,  "The  Drummer-Boy 
of  the  Chickahominy,"  as  he  was  called, 
was  but  little  over  sixteen  years  of  age  when 
he  enlisted  in  1862.  At  the  battle  of  Gaines 
Mills,  Va.,  the  second  of  the  Seven  Days'  Battle 
before  Richmond,  and  during  his  subsequent 
experience  with  the  army,  his  great  pluck  and 
nerve,  his  presence  of  mind  and  fortitude,  es 
tablished  for  him  a  record  which  is  barely  sug 
gested  by  the  official  description,  "  distinguished 
bravery  in  battle." 

From  early  morning  of  that  memorable  day, 
the  enemy  ha,d  been  concentrating  in  front  of 
Porter's  Corps,  believing  that  the  whole  of 
McClellan's  force  was  before  them.  Several  times  they  had  charged  the  Union 
lines  in  force,  but  had  been  repulsed  each  time  with  great  loss. 

General  Butterfield's  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Twelfth,  Seventeenth,  and 
Forty-fourth  New  York  Infantry,  Eighty-third  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  and  Six 
teenth  Michigan  Infantry,  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  resting  on  the 


GEORGE   D.  SIDMAN, 

Private,  Co.  C,  16th  Michigan  Infantry. 
Born  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  25,  1844. 


—  51  — 

Chickahominy  Swamp,  not  far  from  Bottom's  Bridge,  which  with  a  corduroy 
road  across  the  swamp,  offered  the  only  means  of  retreat  to  the  left  flank  in 
case  of  defeat. 

The  sun  was  low  on  the  horizon  wrhen  the  enemy  advanced,  four  columns  deep, 
to  charge  the  Union  center  by  an  enfilading  movement.  They  broke  through  the 
weakened  lines  and  forced  the  left  flank  back  into  the  swamp,  where,  for  a 
time,  it  looked  as  if  the  entire  corps  had  been  caught  like  rats  in  a  trap.  The 


SEIZED  ONE  OF  THE  GUIDONS  OF  HIS   REGIMENT 

stampede  was  so  complete  that  a  part  of  the  brigade,  under  Butterh'eld,  was  forced 
back  almost  into  the  swamp.  At  this  juncture  General  Butterfield  and  a  part  of 
his  staff  rode  into  the  lines,  calling  upon  his  men  to  rally  and  save  the  day. 
Young  George  Sidman.  caught  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment,  seized  one 
of  the  guidons  of  his  regiment,  and,  rushing  to  the  side  of  the  general,  called 
upon  his  comrades  to  rally  there.  His  action,  with  the  calls  of  the  officer, 
had  the  effect  of  rallying  a  remnant  of  the  brigade,  and,  in  less  time  than  it 
takes  to  tell  the  story,  this  handful  of  men  formed  a  "forlorn  hope"  that 
charged  back,  and  almost  crossed  bayonets  wTith  the  enemy,  then  in  full  posses 
sion  of  the  field.  The  rebels,  not  knowing  the  strength  of  the  force  charging 
them,  fell  back  a  short  distance,  and  night  set  in  before  they  discovered  that 
"  Stonewall "  Jackson's  army  had  been  whipped  by  less  than  a  thousand 


—  52  — 

Yankees.  There  is  little  doubt  that  this  "  forlorn  hope "  rally,  incited,  in  a 
measure,  by  the  heroic  example  of  George  Sidman,  was  the  means  of  saving 
the  Fifth  Corps  from  almost  total  destruction. 

Sidman  was  severely  wounded  by  a  minie  ball  through  the  left  hip,  in  the 
charge  back  upon  the  enemy,  and  lay  upon  the  field  until  the  firing  ceased, 
when  he  clubbed  his  musket  over  a  stump,  to  destroy  its  usefulness  to  the 
enemy,  and  threw  his  accoutrements  into  a  ditch  of  water  near  by.  He 
crawled  off  the  field  and  through  Chickahominy  Swamp  on  his  hands  and 
knees,  being  unable  to  walk,  or  even  stand,  on  his  wounded  leg.  The  next 
morning  he  was  picked  up  by  an  ambulance  and  taken  to  Savage  Station, 
where,  two  days  later,  he  was  taken  prisoner  with  8,000  other  sick  and 
wounded,  left  by  McClellan  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  enemy. 

He  celebrated  the  4th  of  July  by  a  ride  to  Richmond  on  a  flat  car,  exposed 
all  day  to  the  hot  sun,  without  food  or  water,  weak  and  helpless.  He  was  con 
fined  in  Libby  Prison,  Castle  Thunder,  and  finally  at  Belle  Isle.  While  at  the 
last-named  place  gangrene  formed  in  his  wound,  and,  without  medical  attention 
he  would  have  died,  as  thousands  of  others  did  from  the  same  cause,  had  he 
not  cured  it  himself  by  the  most  heroic  treatment.  He  had  with  him  a  little 
''house-wife,"  containing,  among  other  things,  a  small  package  of  capsicum, 
which  he  deliberately  poured  into  the  open  wound.  The  remedy  was  nearly  as  bad 
as  the  disease,  but  Sidman  declares  that  it  removed  the  gangrene  and  saved  his  life. 

He  was  exchanged  in  August  and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Point  Lookout, 
Md.,  but  the  place  was  so  isolated  and  lonesome  that  he  begged  to  be  sent 
north.  This  request  being  refused,  he  took  passage  one  night  in  the  stoke-hole 
of  a  steamboat  going  up  the  Potomac  River,  and  arrived  the  following  morn 
ing  in  Washington,  where  he  reported  at  the  War  Department  and  requested  to 
be  sent  to  his  regiment,  then  campaigning  in  Virginia.  The  spectacle  of  a  sol 
dier  on  crutches,  of  very  uninviting  appearance,  reporting  at  the  headquarters 
of  the  army  and  requesting  to  be  sent  to  his  regiment  for  duty,  was  such  a 
novelty  that  the  officers  regarded  him  as  a  lunatic. 

The  hospitals  being  crowded  at  this  time  with  the  wounded  from  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  he  was  sent  to  Convalescent  Camp,  near  Alexandria,  Va., 
where  he  remained  until  he  could  move  about  with  the  aid  of  a  stick,  when, 
hearing  that  his  regiment  was  encamped  not  far  away,  he  took  "French  Leave," 
and  joined  his  company  much  to  the  amazement  of  his  comrades.  The  surgeon 
of  the  regiment  would  not  certify  him  for  duty,  because  his  wound  was  not  yet 
healed,  and  as  it  was  evident  that  he  could  not  march,  he  was  ordered  to  re 
turn  to  the  hospital,  which  he  refused  to  do.  The  following  day  the  army 
started  on  the  Maryland  Campaign,  and  his  regiment  marched  away,  leaving 
him  behind  to  shift  for  himself.  Nothing  daunted,  he  begged  a  ride  across  'the 
river  to  Georgetown,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  his  regiment  that  night,  nearly 
worn  out.  The  next  morning  he  found  a  condemned  horse  by  the  roadside,  and, 
with  a  bridle  made  of  knapsack  straps,  and  a  pile  of  blankets  to  soften  the  pro 
truding  bones  of  his  fiery  steed,  he  rode  into  camp  that  night.  The  colonel  of 
his  regiment,  admiring  his  pluck,  ordered  that  Sidman  be  permitted  to  remain 
with  the  command  and  that  he  be  allowed  rations.  He  followed  his  regiment 
to  Antietam,  mounted  on  his  condemned  horse,  and  participated  in  the  battle 
that  resulted  in  driving  General  Lee  out  of  Maryland. 


—  53  — 


MOST  BRAVE  AND 

INTREPID  ON 

THE  FIELD 


JAMES   QUINLAN, 

Major,  88th  N.  Y.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained :  Colonel. 

B  trn  at  Tipperary,  Ireland,  Sept.  13, 1833. 


ON  THE  morning  after  the  bat 
tle  of  Gaines  Mills,  Va.,  the 
colonel  and  lieutenant-colonel  of 
my  regiment,  the  Eighty-eighth 
New  York  (Meagher's  Irish  Bri 
gade),  of  which  I  was  major,  re 
ported  sick  and  went  to  the 
rear,  the  command  devolving 
on  me. 

"  The  afternoon  of  that  day 
we  took  up  our  march  for  our 
new  base,  which,  we  were  informed,  would  be  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.  Harassed 
all  the  way  by  the  enemy,  fighting  each  day  and  marching  at  night,  Sunday  morn 
ing,  June  29.  we  arrived  at  a  place  called  Savage  Station,  Va.,  and  were  ordered 
to  halt  and  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  possible.  Early  that  day  the  enemy 
appeared  in  force  at  Tyler's  and  Nelson's  farms.  My  regiment  and  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Massachusetts,  under  Colonel  Pierce,  were  ordered  into  action  at  both 
places.  The  fighting  was  pretty  severe,  but  the  enemy  were  repulsed,  and  we 
were  ordered  back  to  our  original  position. 

"The  army  under  General  McClellan  was  crossing  the  White  Oak  Swamp  on 
its  retreat.  Our  turn  came  to  move,  as  the  corps  of  General  E.  V.  Sumner,  to 
which  we  were  attached,  had  the  rear  of  the  whole  army.  As  we  neared  White 
Oak  Swamp  a  Confederate  Battery  of  six  guns,  supported  by  a  large  column  of 
infantry  under  Generals  Magruder  and  Huger,  opened  a  terrific  fire,  which  caused 
Sumner's  Corps  to  halt.  General  W.  W.  Burns,  U.  S.  A.,  with  his  brigade,  was 
sent  to  silence  the  Battery,  and  being  unsuccessful  called  for  re-enforcements. 
Several  regiments  were  sent  to  his  assistance,  notably,  the  First  Minnesota,  under 
the  gallant  Sully,  but  still  the  fire  of  the  battery  kept  up.  General  Sumner  sent 
for  the  Eighty-eighth  Regiment,  and  when  I  reported  to  him  he  said:  'Quinlan, 
what  formation  have  you?'  I  answered:  'Double  on  the  center.'  '  Good  he  said. 
I  know  your  regiment  well,  and  they  can  deploy  at  the  double-quick.'  He  or 
dered  me  to  report  to  General  Burns,  who  ordered  me  forward  at  double-quick 
to  charge  the  battery.  As  we  started,  the  enemy's  guns  ceased  firing,  and  when 
we  got  within  the  range  that  suited  them  best,  their  six  guns  were  discharged 
simultaneously.  But  the  Eighty-eighth  did  not  falter.  They  pushed  on  and  si 
lenced  the  battery." 


—  54  — 

In  addition  to  Major  Quinlan's  account  of  the  charge,  the  official  statement 
of  one  of  his  superior  officers  is  as  follows: 

"  The  conduct  of  Major  Quinlan  on  that  occasion  was  that  of  a  self-sacrificing 
soldier.  He  dashed  into  the  very  face  of  death,  so  far  as  he  could  know,  thereby 
relieving  the  troops  massed  in  a  cul  de  sac  from  the  battery's  devastating  fire, 
and  probably  discouraging  the  enemy  for  the  day,  for  the  fighting  was  not  re 
newed  after  the  silencing  of  their  guns  until  past  nightfall.  Major  Quinlan  de 
serves  the  badge  of  gallantry  to  be  awarded  to  the  most  brave  and  intrepid  on 
the  field." 


RESCUED  AN  ABANDONED 
BATTERY 


O 


N  THE  80th  of  June,  1862,  after  the 
battle  of  White  Oak  Swamp,  the  Fifth 
United  States  Artillery,  of  which  I  was  a 
member,  was  stationed  on  the  road  leading 
to  Richmond.  Va.  About  four  o'clock  that 
afternoon  we  received  orders  to  move  to  a 
new  position  and,  while  our  regiment  was 
preparing  to  make  this  move,  I  saw  that 
Captain  Mott's  Battery,  of  the  First  New 
York  Artillery,  had  been  abandoned  and 
was  in  danger  of  being  captured  by  the 
advancing  enemy. 

"I  at  once  went  to  Captain  Ayres  of  our  battery  and  told  him  that  if  he 
would  let  me  have  two  men  I  would  recover  some,  if  not  all,  of  the  abandoned 
battery.  Permission  was  granted,  and  with  my  two  companions  I  started  back. 
"  We  soon  reached  the  battery,  and,  after  much  hard  work,  in  constant  danger 
of  losing  our  lives,  we  succeeded  in  recovering  two  guns,  two  limbers,  and  cais 
sons,  which  we  delivered  to  Captain  Ayres." 

The  service  which  George  Uhry  performed  and  here  describes,  deserves  notice, 
not  only  for  the  bravery  of  the  act,  but  for  its  importance  in  preventing  a  pos 
sible  advantage  to  the  enemy. 


GEORGE   UHRY, 

5th  U.  S.  Artillery. 
Born  in  Baden,  Germany,  Oct.  31, 1838. 


—  55  — 


UNDER  CONSTANT  FIRE  FOR  SEVENTEEN  HOURS 


LIEUTENANT      KlNG      glVCS     this 
account  of  the  trying  posi 
tion  maintained  by  the  battery 
under    his    command    at  White 
Oak  Swamp: 

"During  the  retreat  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  com 
manded  by  General  George  B. 
McClellan,  from  in  front  of  Rich 
mond  to  Harrison's  Landing, Va., 
the  batteries  to  which  I  belonged 
-  A  and  C,  Fourth  United  States 
Artillery,  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  George  Hazard,  a  veteran 
of  the  Mexican  War, — was  de 
tailed  as  part  of  the  rear  guard, 
which  was  composed  of  Richard 
son's  Division  of  Sumner's  Corps, 
covering  the  retreat  from  Savage 
Station  to  White  Oak  Swamp. 
After  three  days  of  constant 
fighting  we  reached  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  there  had  a  narrow  escape  from  capture. 

"  On  the  morning  of  June  30,  about  nine  o'clock,  arriving  at  the  swTamp,  and  dis 
covering  that  the  bridge  had  been  burned  by  the  retreating  army,  we  made  the 
crossing  at  the  place  where  the  bridge  had  been,  to  the  intense  astonishment  of 
our  army,  congregated  on  the  other  side  watching  the  perilous  experiment.  The 
Confederates  were  striving  with  all  their  skill  to  build  a  new  bridge,  and.  on  the 
defeat  of  this  attempt,  depended  the  safety  of  our  army.  On  the  heights  oppo 
site  the  Confederates  were  piled  enormous  quantities  of  our  transportation,  ac 
cumulated  there  in  our  hasty  retreat  from  Richmond.  Sumner's  Corps  still 
occupied  the  post  of  honor  on  the  rear  guard,  and  Batteries  A  and  C  were  ordered 
into  position  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  with  instructions  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  crossing,  and  to  hold  the  ground  at  any  cost.  About  ten  minutes  after  our 
taking  position,  Captain  Hazard  was  mortally  wounded  and  carried  from  the 
field,  the  command  then  devolving  upon  me,  the  senior  lieutenant  present  for 
duty. 

"  Our  battery  was  made  the  object  of  attack  by  some  thirty  pieces  of  artillery 
concentrated  by  the  enemy  in  an  endeavor  to  dislodge  us  from  our  position. 
The  fire  from  the  guns  was  frightful,  and  there  was  not  a  portion  of  the  battery 


RUFUS   KING, 

1st  Lieutenant,  4th  U.  S.  Artillery. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Colonel. 
Born  in  New  York  City,  March  21,  1838. 


—  56  — 

that  did  not  get  its  share  of  it.  Our  fire  was  so  accurate  that  it  was  impossible 
for  the  enemy's  engineers  and  bridge  builders  to  accomplish  their  work  while 
we  were  pouring  our  spherical  case  and  solid  shot  into  their  midst,  but  the 
strain  on  us  was  tremendous.  Our  battery,  consisting  of  eight  guns  and  about 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  men,  was  depended  upon  to  reply  to  a  concentrated 
attack  by  thirty  guns  that  had  our  range  accurately,  and  whose  efforts  to  dis 
lodge  us  were  most  persistent.  The  fire  from  Jackson's  Artillery  was  so  heavy 
that  cannoneers  and  drivers  were  shot  down  and  horses  killed  in  such  numbers 
that  some  of  the  non-commissioned  officers  took  it  upon  themselves  to  withdraw 
one  of  the  guns.  I  went  after  them  and  succeeded  in  having  the  gun  brought 
back  to  its  old  position. 

"The  demands  on  our  diminished  numbers  to  serve  the  guns  efficiently  were 
most  exhausting,  and  it  required  my  constant  presence  in  all  parts  of  the  bat 
tery,  encouraging  and  cheering  the  men,  assisting  them  to  serve  the  pieces,  and 
praising  them,  to  give  them  the  confidence  necessary  to  enable  our  battery  to 
accomplish  the  desired  result. 

"  We  remained  in  position  from  9  A.  M.  until  2  A.  M.  the  next  day,  under 
constant  fire  all  the  time,  losing  a  great  many  men  and  horses  from  the  fire  of 
the  enemy,  but  succeeded  in  preventing  them  from  building  the  bridge  and 
crossing  the  swamp  before  our  army  had  reached  a  place  of  safety." 


BETTER   WORK   WITHOUT 
THE  DRUM 


o 


BENJAMIN   B.   LEVY, 

Drummer,  1st  New  York  Vols. 
Born  in  New  York  City,  Feb.  22, 1845. 


N  THAT  memorable  retreat  from  Richmond. 
June  30,  1862,  the  First  New  York  Volunteers, 
in  which  Benjamin  Levy  was  the  drummer,  had 
been  on  picket  duty  the  night  before,  and  it  con 
sequently  fell  to  their  lot  to  cover  the  retreat. 
In  this  position  they  were  considerably  harassed 
by  sharpshooters  and  guerrillas  who  lay  in  wait 
for  those  who  fell  by  the  wayside.  Levy,  who  wras 
little  over  sixteen  years  old,  was  marching  with  his  tent-mate  who  was  sick  with 
malaria,  and  in  his  feeble  condition  could  make  but  slow  progress.  He  was  about 
to  lie  down,  when  Levy  broke  his  drum  and  cast  it  aside,  took  the  accoutrements 
and  gun  of  his  sick  comrade,  and  encouraged  him  to  keep  up  so  as  to  avoid  capture. 
This  regiment  became  engaged  that  afternoon  in  the  battle  of  Charles  City 
Cross  Roads,  Va.  (or  Glendale).  Levy,  being  a  drummer,  was  not  obliged  to  go  into 
action.  He  reported,  however,  to  his  superior  officer  and  bravely  volunteered  to 


—  57- 


shoulder  a  rifle  and  participate  in  the  action  on  the  firing  line.  His  brave  offer 
being  accepted  he  proceeded  to  the  front  with  his  regiment  and  thus  became 
actively  engaged  in  the  fighting. 

There  were  four  colors  in  this  engagement  belonging  to  the  regiment.  All  but 
two  of  the  color-bearers  and  corporals  were  killed  or  wounded.  Immediately  he 
threw  away  his  gun,  which  he  still  carried  in  one  hand,  grasped  the  other  flag  and, 


with  a  stand  of  colors 
a  hasty  retreat,  dur- 
ceived  a  slight  flesh 

On  emerging  from 
two  colors,  he  met 
ney,  who  was  in  com- 
at  that  time.  The 
what  regiment  he  be 
ing  informed,  direct- 
where  the  remnant 
stationed.  For  his 
the  two  colors  he  was 
moted  by  General 
sergeant. 

The  day  after,  at 
Hill,  the  regiment 
and  the  men  were  so 
that  their  uniforms 
than  blue.  While 
cross  an  open  field, 


ROLLED  OVER    AND  OVER 


on  each  shoulder  beat 
ing  which  he  re 
wound. 

the  woods  with  the 
General  Phil.  Kear- 
mand  of  his  division 
general  inquired 
longed  to,  and  on  be- 
ed  him  to  the  point 
of  the  regiment  was 
gallantry  in  rescuing 
then  and  there  pro- 
Kearney  to  be  color- 

the  battle  of  Malvern 
had  been  marching, 
covered  with  dust, 
looked  more  gray 
obeying  an  order  to 
they  were  fired  upon 
batteries  stationed 
The  colonel,  Garret 


by  one  of  the  Union 

on  a  hill,  the  gunners  mistaking  them  for  Confederates. 
Dyckman,  seeing  the  danger  of  his  regiment,  ordered  the  men  to  lie  down, 
and  directed  Levy  to  unfurl  his  flag,  advance  down  the  center  of  the  field, 
and  wave  the  colors  until  the  firing  should  cease.  Levy  promptly  obeyed 
and,  when  the  ,  firing  stopped,  was  about  to  return  to  the  regiment,  when  a 
volley  from  the  enemy's  pickets  or  sharpshooters,  lined  along  the  edge  of  the 
woods,  opened  upon  him.  The  staff  of  the  colors  was  struck,  and  a  ball  pierced 
the  tin  cup  attached  to  his  haversack.  He  lay  down,  tore  his  handkerchief 
into  strips,  with  which  he  tied  his  colors  up,  and  then  rolled  over  and  over 
back  to  the  regiment,  arriving  safe  amid  the  laughter  and  applause  of  his 
comrades. 


—  58' 


RETALIATION 


IT  WAS  at  Charles  City  Cross  Roads  that  Corporal  Shambaugh  captured  a  Con 
federate  flag.  During  the  battle  his  eye  was  caught  by  the  stars  and  bars 
of  a  Georgia  regiment  waving  defiantly  amid  the  hail  of  shot  and  shell  not 
far  away.  He  remarked  to  Sergeant  Howard,  who  stood  near  him,  that,  as  the 
Confederates  had  taken  some  of  their  battle  flags  at  Gaines  Mills,  and  had  captured 
at  the  same  time,  nine  companies  of  the  Eleventh  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  it  would 
be  a  good  idea  to  retaliate. 

The  two  men  took  up  a  position  considerably  in  advance  of  the  Federal  line 
of  battle,  and,  when  the  rebels  charged,  Shambaugh  dashed  forward,  in  the  face 
of  almost  certain  death,  and  grappled  with  the  color-bearer  for  his  flag.  A  very 
short  tussle  ensued,  and  Shambaugh  succeeded  in  wresting  the  color  from  the 
bearer.  Upon  gaining  the  colors  he  turned  and  ran,  and  managed,  in  the  Federal 
countercharge,  to  get  back  to  the  ranks  unhurt.  Howard  was  separated  from 
Shambaugh  at  the  beginning  of  the  charge,  and  had  no  hand  in  the  capture. 


SEVEN  WOUNDS  IN  SEVEN  DAYS 


CAPTAIN   RAFFERTY'S    story   as  he  tells   it,    shows,  be 
sides  an  extraordinary  degree   of   nerve   and  pluck, 
that    love    of    fighting    which     seems     to     have     been 
characteristic  of  the  members  of  the  Irish  Brigade.     He 
writes: 

"I  was  seventeen  years  old  when  I  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  Sixty-ninth  New  York  Volunteers.  This  was  not 
the  Sixty-ninth  Militia,  which,  in  the  volunteers,  had 

PETER   F.  RAFFERTY, 

private,  co.  B,  69th  K.Y.  vol.  inf.      another  number.    Both  regiments,  however,  were  enlisted 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain.  :       ^Pw    Vr^L-    rS4-v     anr]     m'riptv   fivP    r»Pr    PPTlt    of    OUT*    rpcri 

Born  in  New  York  City,  June  12, 1845.  1TV>    all(      Uinei»y-Ilye    p6  regl- 

ment  were   Irishmen.      We   were   in   the   Irish   Brigade, 

and  were  called  into  action  at  Malvern  Hill.  Va.,  late  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  first  day  of  July,  1862,  the  last  day  of  the  fight  before  Richmond.  The  Sixty- 
ninth,  Colonel  Robert  Nugent,  and  the  Eighty-eighth  New  York  attempted  to  check 
the  advance  of  a  powerful  column  of  rebels.  We  were  in  the  lead,  and  as  soon 
as  we  had  exhausted  our  sixty  rounds  of  cartridges,  the  Eighty-eighth  took  our 
place  until  we  could  get  a  fresh  supply  of  ammunition  and  go  into  the  fight  again. 
"We  had  scarcely  gotten  well  warmed  up  before  Colonel  Nugent  saw  that  a 
detachment  of  the  enemy  had  mounted  the  foothills  and  was  bearing  down  upon 


—  59  — 

our  flank.  Nugent  charged  with  both  regiments,  and  we  had  a  hand-to-hand 
encounter  with  the  famed  Louisiana  Tigers.  The  'Terriers'  wiped  the  'Tigers' 
off  the  field,  but  we  were  pretty  well  used  up  ourselves. 

"  It  was  in  this  part  of  the  fight  that  I  felt  a  stinging  sensation  in  my  right 
thigh  and  realized  that  I  was  hit.  It  made  me  limp,  but  I  concluded  to  stay  in  the 
ring  —  in  fact  there  wouldn't  have  been  anywhere  else  to  go — until  there  should 


"I'LL  STAY   AND   FIGHT   IT  OUT" 

have  been  a  lull  in  the  fighting.  After  we  had  repulsed  the  'Tigers,'  our 
company  (B)  took  stock  of  the  dead  and  wounded.  Captain  Thomas  Leddy  told 
several  of  us  who  had  been  hit,  to  go  to  the  rear,  but  there  was  nothing  at  the 
rear  that  could  do  us  any  good — no  surgeons,  no  ambulances.  We  would  be 
among  strangers,  and,  if  our  army  shifted  its  position,  it  might  leave  us  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 

'"I  don't  want  to  go  to  the  rear,  captain,'  said  I,  'I'm  all  right.  I'll  stay  and 
fight  it  out  with  the  boys.'  So  after  some  arguing,  the  captain  let  all  of  us  come 
back  to  the  company  who  were  able  to  get  around. 


—  60  — 


"But  the  'Tigers'  hadn't  had  enough,  and,  at  about  half-past  eight,  they  came 
up  to  the  assault  again.  There  were  a  thousand  men  on  each  side  in  full  view 
of  each  other,  and  for  ten  minutes  shooting  was  good.  Then  Colonel  Nugent 
ordered  a  charge,  and  that  was  the  end  of  the  '  Tigers.'  Their  colonel  was  captured 
and  with  him  a  good  many  men. 

''I  didn't  come  out  of  this  second  fight  in  as  good  condition  as  the  first.  I 
got  two  bullets  in  the  mouth  and  the  lower  part  of  the  jaw,  which  smashed  the 
bones  and  carried  away  part  of  my  tongue.  Besides  this  another  went  through 
my  foot  entering  at  the  top  and  coming  out  at  the  sole. 

"I  was  left  on  the  field  for  a  long  time,  and  two  days  later  was  captured 
and  sent  to  Libby,  reaching  there  on  the  Fourth  of  July.  In  those  last  seven 
days  of  fighting  I  had  received  just  seven  wounds  but  as  I  was  rated  a  good 
shot  in  my  company,  and  could  hit  anything  I  fired  at,  it  is  very  likely  that  I 
did  not  have  the  worst  of  the  bargain. 

"I  was  exchanged  later,  and  was  discharged  in  March,  1863,  on  account  of 
my  wounds,  having  served  a  year  and  a  half.  In  1864  I  had  recovered  suffi 
ciently  to  re-enlist  in  the  Sixth  District  of  Columbia  Volunteers,  in  which  I  was 
lieutenant." 


CAPTURED   TWO    REBELS 


IT   WAS  at  the  battle   of  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  on  the  5th 
of  August,    1862,  that  John  C.   Curtis,  then   a  second 
lieutenant,  performed  an   act   of   military  daring,  which 
won  the  plaudits  of  his  comrades,  the  commendation  of 
officers,  and   the  official  recognition  of  his  Government. 
Twenty-five    hundred    Federals    faced  a  foe  of   twice 
this   strength.     For   eight  hours   the   struggle   continued 
with   varying  success  until   the   Union  gunboats   Essex, 
Sumter,   and   Kineo   came  to  the  support  of  the  troops 
and  rendered  most  valuable  assistance. 

General  Williams,  who  in  a  brilliant  charge  led  the 
Yankees  to  victory,  was  shot  in  the  chest  and  killed 
during  this  engagement.  Under  ordinary  circumstances 
the  death  of  the  commander  might  have  caused  a  panic  among  the 
troops.  The  presence  of  mind  of  the  various  officers,  however,  prevented  any 
such  disastrous  effect.  One  of  these  was  Second  Lieutenant  Curtis.  His  un 
daunted  courage  animated  and  inspired  the  men.  He  was  always  in  the  lead, 
once  even  approaching  the  enemy  so  closely  as  to  be  within  their  own  rank. 
With  great  coolness  and  nerve  he  captured  two  rebel  soldiers  and  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet  marched  them  to  the  regimental  headquarters. 


JOHN  c.  CURTIS, 

Born  at  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


—  61 


A    DANGEROUS   MISSION 


'A' 


T  THE  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,"  writes 
Private  Yunker,  "our  command  was 
flanked  by  the  enemy  on  the  right,  and 
we  came  under  a  heavy  cross-tire  from  our 
own  guns  in  the  rear,  while  we  were,  at 
the  same  time,  under  a  severe  fire,  at  close 
range,  from  the  Confederate  batteries.  Our 
men  fell  dead  and  wounded  almost  by 
companies.  Captain  Anderson  called  for  a 
volunteer  to  carry  an  order  back  to  our 
artillery,  to  cease  firing  on  us,  and  notic 
ing  that  the  men  were  hesitating,  I  stepped 
forward,  took  the  order  and  safely  deliv 
ered  it  to  the  captain  of  the  battery. 

"  On  my  quarter-of-a-mile  trip,  shot  and  shell  and  missiles  of  every  descrip 
tion  flew  around  me  like  hail,  but  I  reached  the  officer  unharmed,  and  on  my 
return  received  only  a  slight  wound  in  the  left  arm." 

It  requires  but  slight  powers  of  reading  between  the  lines,  to  discern,  in 
this  brief  and  modest  recital,  a  deed  of  the  utmost  bravery.  It  appears,  that 
the  enemy,  perceiving  the  mission  of  the  daring  volunteer,  made  him  the  ob 
jective  point  of  their  concentrated  fire  during  his  trip  to  and  from  the  battery, 
so  that  his  escape  alive  was  a  very  narrow  one.  Although  wounded  in  the 
performance  of  this  service,  he  returned  to  his  company  and  resumed  his  place 
in  the  fighting  line. 


JOHN  L.  YUNKER, 

Private,  Co.  A,  12th  U.  S.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Wiirtemherg.  Germany,  November  16,  1836. 


Cedar  Mountain. —  On  the  9th  of  August,  General  Pope  in  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  with 
about  32,000  men,  came  in  contact  with  a  rebel  force,  under  Jackson,  of  between  18,000  and  20,000,  at  a  little 
stream  called  Cedar  Run,  near  Gordonsville.  Va. 

The  cannonading  on  both  sides  was  heavy,  and  the  battle  was  of  short  duration,  fortune  seeming,  at 
first,  in  favor  of  the  Union  men  ;  but  a  brilliant  rally,  led  by  Jackson  himself,  changed  the  conditions,  and 
the  rebels  drove  our  troops  from  the  field.  The  loss  to  Pope's  command  amounted  to  about  1,400 ;  the  Con 
federate  loss  being  1,307. 


—  62  — 


A  TIMELY  WARNING 


ONE   of  the   most  conspicuous   individual   incidents 
of   the    second   battle   of   Bull   Run  was  the  ex 
ploit  of  James   Webb,  who  relates  the  circumstances 
and  partly  describes  the  fight. 

"  We  went  into  action  with  the   Nineteenth  New 
York   Infantry,   and    while    waiting    for   orders,   with 
JAMES  W.WEBB,  the    Tenth   on   our   left,  we   were   permitted  to  make 

Private,  Co.  F,  5th  N.  Y.  Infantry.  „, 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet  Captain.    COftee.        W  6    had    not      DCCn     long    at    thlS,   when    Colonel 

Born  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  20, 3844.      /-^      7-.      -ITJ  n  i          <M  u_    j_-  -.LI 

G.  R.  Warren  rode  up,  and,  atter  a  consultation  with 

General  Reynolds,  gave  the  order,  'Forward,  guide  center,'  and  away  we 
went,  carrying  our  kilters  of  coffee  with  us.  We  continued  the  march  until 
within  about  ten  paces  from  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where  Longstreet's  Army, 
under  Hood  and  Evans,  was  concealed.  Six  companies  of  the  Tenth  were  de 
ployed  to  the  front  as  skirmishers,  but  in  a  few  minutes  they  came  back  helter- 
skelter,  having  found  the  enemy  in  the  woods. 

"  The  rebels  came  out  directly  behind  them,  so  that  we  were  unable  to  fire, 
lest  we  fire  into  our  own  men,  and  we  therefore  opened  our  ranks  to  let  the 
skirmishers  through.  The  enemy's  fire  was  too  much  for  us,  and  we  were 
swept  off  the  field  as  if  mown  down  by  a  scythe.  When  we  got  beyond  the 
creek  we  halted,  and  what  was  left  of  us  reformed. 

"  Though  we  had  been  through  the  Peninsular  Campaign  under  General 
McClellan,  we  were  dodging  bullets  like  raw  recruits.  While  thus  engaged,  I 
saw  that  Hazlett's  Battery  (D),  Fifth  U.  S.  Artillery,  was  still  in  position  at 
the  edge  of  the  woods,  firing  away  as  if  victory  were  ours,  and  wholly  unaware 
of  the  fact  that  our  forces  had  drawn  back.  There  was  the  battery,  without 
support  of  any  kind,  and  Evans'  Brigade  preparing  to  charge  it.  I  wondered 
what  that  battery  was  doing  out  there  all  alone,  and,  in  my  excitement  I 
called  out  that  they  would  be  captured.  I  said: 

" '  I  am  going  over  there  and  tell  them  of  their  danger,'  and  with  that  I 
started  across  the  field. 


At  the  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  which  occurred  on  the  30th  of  August,  1862,  General  Pope  was  in 
command  of  a  force  near  Groveton,  consisting  of  two  of  Heintzelman's  divisions,  under  Hooker  and  Kearney, 
on  the  right,  and  Reno  and  Sigel,  on  the  left.  He  was  opposed  by  Lee's  entire  army. 

The  attack  was  made  on  the  enemy's  left,  with  disastrous  result  to  the  Union  force.  On  the  following 
day  the  attack  was  renewed  on  the  left,  which  at  first  retired,  as  Lee's  plan  was  also  to  attack  Pope  on  his 
left.  Porter's  Corps,  in  pursuit  of  a  supposed  flying  foe,  received  a  severe  check  from  the  rebels  concealed 
in  the  woods,  and  was  repulsed  with  great  loss. 

Our  troops  retreated  across  Bull  Run  under  cover  of  darkness,  unpursued  by  the  enemy. 

The  Union  loss  in  this  engagement  amounted  to  14,462;  the  rebels  lost  9,197. 


—  63  — 


"  At  this  time  the  firing  had  ceased,  but  I  was  no  more  than  about  fifty  feet 
from  our  lines  when  the  enemy,  evidently  surmising  my  intention,  opened  fire 
upon  me.  The  bullets  whistled  all  around  me,  but  I  kept  on,  for  I  was  in  a 
place  where  I  could  not  stop. 


"AS  WE  WERE    HURRYING  BACK" 

"  I  finally  reached  the  battery,  which  was  about  600  feet  away  from  us,  and 
managed  to  say  to  Lieutenant  Hazlett: 

'"The  Rebs  are  on  your  front  and  rear!' 

"  He  looked  around,  and,  seeing  his  danger,  at  once  ordered  the  battery  to 
limber  up  to  the  rear,  and  away  we  went  to  the  Warrenton  Turnpike. 

"Just  as  we  started,  a  bullet  struck  me  in  the  side  and  went  through  me. 
As  we  were  hurrying  back,  each  man  for  himself,  there  was  no  one  to  assist 
me,  and,  after  falling  down  three  or  four  times,  I  finally  reached  the  turnpike, 
where  I  dropped. 

"  After  lying  there  some  time  a  surgeon  came  along,  and,  seeing  that  I  was 
pretty  badly  wounded,  ordered  me  taken  to  the  rear,  a  fit  subject  for  the  hos 
pital.  This  I  did  not  want  done,  and.  with  the  assistance  of  some  of  the  boys, 
I  made  my  way  to  Centreville,  about  eight  miles  distant.  After  my  wound  was 
dressed,  I  joined  my  company  and  fought  with  it  through  the  Maryland 
campaign." 


—  64  — 


SURRENDER-SURRENDER " 


NERVE  and  pluck  are  essential  qualifications   of    a   soldier.     They   were    abun 
dantly  displayed  by  the  Union  men,  but  here  is  a  sample  which  earned  for 
Sergeant    Mills    an   official   recognition    and  will   awaken   the   interest   of   every 
reader.     The  sergeant  himself  narrates : 

"  I  was  on  the  advance  guard  with  some  of  our  men  September  4,  1862, 
when  we  moved  towards  Sandy  Cross  Roads.  Some  noise  and  faint  cheering 

gave  us  our  direction.  When  we  came  in  sight 
of  Sandy  Cross  Roads,  we  discovered  the  rebels. 
Giving  the  signal  to  our  troops,  we  rushed  in 
on  the  surprised  enemy  as  fast  as  our  horses 
could  carry  us.  It  happened  that  my  horse 
carried  me  in  the  lead.  Before  I  realized  it, 
I  was  right  among  the  rebels.  That  I  came 
out  of  the  affair  alive,  was  a  surprise  to  me. 
At  the  time,  however,  I  thought  of  nothing 
but  to  capture  the  enemy  before  me.  Unmind 
ful  of  all  danger  I  kept  yelling  to  them :  '  Sur 
render — Surrender.' 

"The  rebels  were  completely  taken  by  sur 
prise.  They  believed  the  Yankees  to  be  miles 
away.  They  were  actually  paralyzed  and  did 
not  recover  from  their  surprise,  until  the  cap 
tain  arrived  with  the  rest  of  our  troops.  Then  they  tried  a  little  resistance  - 
some  of  them  even  stood  their  ground,  others  ran  and  got  behind  anything 
they  could  find. 

"  During  the  melee  a  rebel  aimed  his  gun  at  Captain  Hamilton,  but  I  had 
just  time  enough  to  spur  in  on  him  and  cut  him  down,  before  he  fired. 

"  We  captured  about  120  Confederates  and  nearly  100  horses  and  mules. 
While  occupied  in  gathering  them  in,  a  most  satisfactory  job  for  a  soldier,  a 
colored  lad  came  up  to  me  and  told  me,  that  two  prisoners  had  got  away  and 
gone  down  the  road  with  a  mule  and  cart.  He  added  : 

" '  Boss,  they  may  stop  at  a  store  four  miles  down  the  road.'  Here  was  some 
thing  for  me  to  do ;  I  took  one  man  and  started  after  them,  in  the  hurry  even 
forgetting  to  notify  the  captain. 

"We  soon  came  in  sight  of  the  store  and,  sure  enough,  the  mule  was  tied 
outside.  No  one  saw  us  come  up,  so  I  dismounted,  gave  my  bridle  to  my  com 
panion,  and  crept  up  to  the  store.  The  rebels  were  just  relating  their  experi- 


FRANK   W.  MILLS, 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  8th  N.  Y.  City  Militia. 

Born  at  Middle  town,  Orange  Co.,  New  York, 

August  5, 1845. 


—  65  — 

ence  with  the  damned  Yankees,  when  I  sailed  m  on  them  and  shouted  :  '  Sur 
render';  I  fired  a  shot  in  order  to  scare  them,  and,  finding  their  guns  near  the 
door,  had  little  trouble  in  capturing  everything  in  sight. 

"As   we  hastened  the  mule   and  the  prisoners    back  to   our   lines,  we    barely 
escaped  being  left  behind  by  our  command.     Captain  Hamilton  was  very  glad  to 


"WE  HASTENED  THE  PRISONERS  BACK" 


see  us  return.  He  had  missed  us,  and  was  reluctant  to  go  without  us,  though 
he  knew,  that  every  minute  spent  on  this  ground  might  have  brought  an  attack 
by  the  rebels  to  free  their  comrades. 

''Our  prisoners  felt  greatly  mortified  to  think,  that  a  sergeant  and  thirty-five 
Yankee  soldiers  should  have  captured  them,  when  it  had  been  within  their  power 
to  'do  us  up,'  and  let  no  one  go  back  to  tell  the  story." 


A   HIGHLY    HONORED    SOLDIER 


JOSEPH   L.    FOLLET, 

2d  Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  1st  Mo.  L.  Art. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Lieutenant-Colonel, 

Born  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  Feb.  16,  1843. 


LIEUTENANT    JOSEPH    L.    FOLLET   enlisted   as   a 
private   in   Co.   G,  First  Missouri  Infantry  in 
1861.     From   September  of  that   year  he   served 
continuously   throughout   the   war,  never  absent 
from    his    command    a    single   day   and,   though 
twice   wounded,   always    in    active   service.      He 
saw,   perhaps,  as    much   real   hard    fighting,   and 
actual   duty,   as   any   other   man.     He   has   the 
distinction  of    being  the   youngest   officer   in 
command  of  a  battery. 

"I  was  nineteen  years  old."  Lieu 
tenant  Follet  writes,  "when  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  I  had  charge 
of  a  battery  as  first  sergeant.  Again 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  as  a  second 
lieutenant,  I  drew  and  equipped  a 
six-gun  battery  and  reported  to  Gen 
eral  King  on  Lookout  Mountain.  I 
commanded  Fort  Sheridan,  one  of  the  defenses  at  the  right  of  Chattanooga, 
which  I  afterward  turned  over  to  my  successor.  Later  I  was  appointed  ad 
jutant  of  the  Artillery  District  of  the  Etowah, —  General  J.  B.  Steedman  com 
manding, —  comprising  the  defenses  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Chattanooga,  and 
Bridgeport." 

Lieutenant  Follet  took  part  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  under  Generals 
Sheridan,  Pope,  King,  and  Steedman,  who  repeatedly  selected  him  to  carry 
orders  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  He  himself  says  in  regard  to 
these  services: 

''It  really  looked  sometimes  as  though  I  would  never  return.  On  more  than 
one  occasion  I  had  a  miraculous  escape  from  death." 

That  Lieutenant  Follet  in  the  pursuit  of  these  missions  overcame  all 
dangers  and  obstacles  is  evidence  of  his  daring  bravery  and  great  presence  of 
mind. 

He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  2,  1862,  and  at 
Farmington,  Miss.,  May  9,  1862,  yet,  as  stated  before,  continued  in  active  serv 
ice.  He  received  his  Medal  of  Honor  for  his  intrepidity  and  fine  soldierly 
qualities  throughout  his  military  career  and  was  honored  by  General  Sheridan 
by  special  mention  in  several  reports  of  important  battles  and  in  the  general's 
personal  memoirs. 


tainted  by  E.  Jahn 


AT    ANTIETAM 


—  69  — 


HEROIC  STAND  OF  A   BRAVE 
YOUNG  CORPORAL 


B 


WILSON  SMITH, 

Corporal,  BatteiT  H,  3d  N.  Y.  Lt.  Art. 
Born  at  Oriskany  Falls,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  7, 1841. 


EFORE  daylight  of  September  6,  1862,  the  men 
of    Battery    H,   New   York    Light   Artillery 
of  which  I  was  a  corporal,  were  encamped  in  the 
streets   of    Little   Washington,  N.  C.     We   were 
ordered  to  fall  in,  and  an  expedition  consisting 
of   Battery  H,  four  guns,  a  detachment   of 
cavalry  and  infantry  and  a  supply  train, 
started  for  some  point  unknown  to  us. 

"  The  morning  was  dark  and  foggy.  Sev 
eral  gunboats  lay  in  the  stream,  the  men 
on  board  being  asleep.  After  the  column 

had  moved  six  or  seven  blocks,  firing  was  heard  to  the  left.  Then  a  mounted 
officer  appeared,  shouting  that  the  town  had  been  surprised  by  a  large  force. 
A  stampede  immediately  followed  this  announcement  and  the  column  ahead  was 
in  complete  confusion.  The  cavalry  following  maintained  discipline.  The  order 
of  the  commanding  officer:  'Steady,  men'  could  be  plainly  heard.  The  lieu 
tenant  in  charge  of  one  gun  having  disappeared  in  the  confusion,  I  assumed  com 
mand  and  proceeded  rapidly  in  the  direction  of  the  firing. 

"After  advancing  some  blocks  we  came   upon   the   remainder   of  the   battery 
unlimbered  and  read}^  for  action.     We  continued  until  we  reached  River  Street, 
where  the  gun  was  unlimbered  and  loaded  with  canister.     Our  piece  was  unsup 
ported.     As  the  men  finished  loading,  the  fog  lifted,  and  a  body   of   men   filling 
the   entire   street,   and   numbering   about   600,  was   discovered   marching  rapidly 
toward  our  gun.     I  hesitated,  not  knowing  who  they  were.     Just  then  Adjutant 
Guiero,  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry,  rode  up  and  said: 
"'Young  man.  why  don't  you  fire?' 
"I  replied:     'I  don't  know  who  they  are.' 
"'Quite  right.'  he  said.     Til  soon  see.' 

"He  advanced  in  the  direction  of  the  men,  but.  in  an  instant,  he  wheeled 
and  shouted:  'In  God's  name  fire!' 

"  Then  I  gave  the  order  to  fire,  and  in  a  few  minutes  fifteen  charges  of 
canister  were  hurled  against  the  advancing  men,  who  first  halted,  and  then  re 
treated  rapidly  in  the  direction  whence  they  came.  Up  to  this  time  not  one  of 
my  small  detachment  had  been  injured  except  myself,  a  bullet  cutting  my  ear 
slightly. 

"  The  gun  was  then  limbered,  and  we  followed  the  enemy  up  the  street  to  the 
next  block,  where  the  Tar  River  Bridge  provides  an  entrance  to  the  town. 


—  70  — 

Upon  arriving  at  the  corner  we  could  see  that  the  retreating  Confederates  were 
mixed  in  confusion  with  another  regiment,  which  had  been  following  them. 
The  officers  were  endeavoring  to  rally  and  reform  their  lines.  We  again  at 
tempted  to  unlimber  the  gun,  but  the  horses,  in  making  a  short  turn  at  the 
entrance  to  the  bridge,  became  stalled,  and  the  gun  remained  fast. 

"  Just  then  the  Confederates  discharged  a  volley,  a  portion  of  which  struck 
the  wheel  horses,  causing  them  to  plunge  and  wheel.  Now  our  men  were  en 
abled  to  unlimber  the  gun.  Before  it  could  be  loaded,  however,  the  Confeder 
ates  were  upon  us  with  their  bayonets,  and  a  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued  in  front 


"WE  LOADED  THE  GUN   FOR  THE  LAST  TIME" 

of  the  gun.  During  this  combat  John  Malone  and  John  McGrehan  loaded  the 
gun  with  canister.  We  immediately  discharged  it,  and  after  a  few  shots  the 
street  was  rapidly  cleared  of  the  enemy.  But  their  rifle  fire  on  the  street  was 
terrible.  Within  a  few  minutes  every  man  at  the  gun  was  killed  except  John 
Malone  and  myself.  Two  soldiers  from  Battery  G,  one  named  Lincoln,  the  other 
Albert  Willard,  three  members  from  Potter's  North  Carolina  Infantry,  and 
three  members  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry  then  joined  us  and  assisted  in 
working  the  gun. 

"A  large  body  of  Confederates,  in  the  meantime,  had  entered  the  grounds 
of  ex-Governor  Grice's  residence  and  was  pouring  volley  after  volley  into  our 
detachment.  The  last  charge  left  was  a  solid  shot.  All  our  newly  joined  com- 


—  Ti 
rades  had  been  killed  or  wounded,  and   Malone   and   I  loaded  the   gun   for   the 
last  time.     Just  before   the   shot   was   inserted  into   the   gun   a   bullet   shattered 
my  knee,  and  as  I  fired,  Malone  received  a  shot  through  the   body,  which   com 
pletely  paralyzed  his  leg. 

"  He  threw  his  arms  about  me  and  I  carried  him  on  my  back  to  the  bridge 
stairs,  hobbling  along  with  the  aid  of  my  saber.  How  it  was  possible  to  reach 
the  edge  of  the  water  alive,  is  a  mystery  to  me.  A  cutter  then  took  us  both, 
with  the  wounded  Lincoln,  to  the  gunboat  Louisiana.  As  our  gun  ceased  firing, 
the  Louisiana  came  into  action,  her  guns  covering  the  position  we  had 
abandoned,  and  soon  after  the  Confederates  were  in  full  retreat. 

"  The  next  day,  September  7,  on  my  twenty-first  birthday,  my  leg  was 
amputated  above  the  knee.  While  I  was  lying  in  the  hospital  at  New  Berne,  Major- 
Greneral  J.  B.  Foster,  the  corps  commander,  and  Colonel  J.  H.  Ladlie,  the  regi 
mental  commander,  met  at  my  bedside.  The  colonel  said  that  the  action  of 
my  gun  detachment  had  saved  Little  Washington  to  the  Union  forces." 

On  September  12,  1862,  Corporal  Wilson  Smith  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
sergeant  for  the  gallantry  which  he  describes  so  graphically. 


HELD  ON  TO  THE  REBEL 
CAPTAIN 


/^~>ORPORAL  L.  H.  INSCHO  describes  his  act  of 
\*-^  bravery  as  if  it  were  but  a  mere  in 
cident  in  the  course  of  his  regular  duty. 

"  I  was  a  member  of  Co.  E,  Twelfth  Ohio 
Infantry,  when,  at  South  Mountain,  Md.,  our 
regiment,    with   others,  charged    the   Confed 
erates,  who  were   posted   behind    a    stone    wall 
on  the  side  of  the  mountain.     As  we  approached 
the   enemy,  a  rifle-ball   struck   my  gun,  wounding 
my    left    hand.     While  I   stopped   to   examine   my 
piece   and   my  hand,  the   regiments   made   a   flank 
movement  to   the   left,  leaving  me  alone  near  the 
wall. 

"A  Confederate  captain  was  on  the  other  side, 
and  as  he  came  near  me,  I  caught  him  by  the 
collar  and  told  him  to  surrender.  He  refused,  and  pointed  his  revolver  at  my 
head,  but  I  caught  it  by  the  barrel  and  turned  it  up  just  as  he  fired.  I  clung 
to  the  revolver  and  disarmed  him,  and  grabbing  him  by  the  shoulders  began 


LEONIDAS  H.  INSCHO, 

Corporal,  Co.  E,  12th  Ohio  Infantry. 
Born  at  Chatham,  Ohio,  July  20,  1840. 


"I   GOT   HIM   OVER  THE  WALL" 


—  73  — 


to  pull  him  over  the  wall.  He  struggled  vigorously  and  struck  me  in  the  face 
several  times,  but  I  got  him  over  the  wall  and  knocked  him  down  compelling 
him  to  surrender. 

"I  then  turned  my  attention  to  some  of  his  men,  who  were  taking  refuge 
behind  a  clump  of  trees.  I  pointed  my  revolver  at  them  and  demanded  their 
surrender.  Four  of  them  dropped  their  guns  and  came  over  to  the  Union  side 
of  the  wall,  but  a  fifth  man  came  up  to  me  with  his  gun  in  his  hand  and 
swore  he  would  not  give  up  to  a  Yankee.  He  took  aim  at  me  as  he  spoke,  and 
I  dropped  behind  the  wall  just  as  he  fired. 

"  He  turned  to  run  away  and  I  at  once  rose  from  my  position  and  emptied 
the  contents  of  my  revolver  into  him.  I  then  ordered  the  captain  and  his  four 
men  to  fall  in,  and  marched  them  over  to  the  colonel  of  my  regiment." 


BOLDLY  CAPTURED  FOURTEEN  REBELS 


PRIVATE    JAMES   ALLEN   furnishes   a   fine  example  of 
audacity  and   presence    of   mind  in  the  following 
narration: 

"On  the  14th  of  September,  1862,  our  regiment 
engaged  the  enemy  at  South  Mountain,  Md.  A  charge 
brought  us  to  a  dense  cornfield,  separated  from  the 
base  of  the  mountain  by  a  stone  wall.  While  we  were 
charging  through  the  corn,  the  command:  'Right 
oblique  '  was  given,  which  a  comrade  and  myself  did 
not  hear.  We  kept  straight  on  toward  the  wall. 
When  quite  near  it  we  were  met  by  a  volley  which 
checked  us  for  a  moment.  My  comrade  said  to  me: 

"'Hold  on.  Jim.  what  shall  we  do?' 

" '  We'll  charge  them  from  behind  that  wall,'  I  replied. 

"At  our    approach    the   rebels   retreated   from   the 
breastworks  up  the  steep  mountain  side.    We  followed  and  climbed  the  wall.     A 
ball   struck   my   brave   comrade  in  the  left   leg   and  made  him  unfit   for  further 


JAMES   ALLEN, 

Private,  Co.  F,  16th  N.  Y.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Ireland,  May  0, 1843. 


South  Mountain.— After  the  capture  of  Colonel  Miles  with  11,583  men,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  General 
Jackson  hurried  with  the  greater  part  of  his  force  to  rejoin  General  Lee. 

McClellan  learning  the  Confederate  plan,  ordered  Franklin's  Corps  to  pass  through  Crampton's  Gap 
of  the  South  Mountain,  a  continuation  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  to  relieve  Harper's  Ferry;  the  corps  of  Reno  and 
Hooker  he  moved  to  Turner's  Gap. 

McClellan  himself  arrived  at  the  passes  on  the  14th  of  September,  but  Lee  had  observed  the  move 
ment  and  posted  forces  at  both  points. 

A  bloody  all-day  battle  ensued  in  which  the  Union  men  forced  the  passage  of  the  mountain. 

The  loss  at  Turner's  Gap  was  1,500  on  each  side,  1,500  prisoners  being  taken  by  the  Union  troops.  At 
Crampton's  Gap,  the  loss  was  about  500  on  each  side,  and  400  rebel  prisoners  were  taken. 


action.  I  found  a  comfortable  place 
for  the  poor  fellow  in  a  crevice  and 
gave  him  a  drink  from  my  canteen. 
-Richards,"  said  L  -if  I  pull  through 
all  right*  IH  come  and  take  care  of 
jam.9  I  then  followed  the  retreat- 
...-•  .---  -  - 

~By  tins  time  they  had  reached 
a  road  running  up  the  mountain 
which  was  skirted  on  our  side  by 
another  wait  over  which  they  had 
disappeared.  The  only  thing  for  me 
to  do  was  to  climb  also.  As  I  drew 
myself  up,  I  was  met  by  another 
volley,  but  was  only  slightly  wounded. 
~  Putting  on  a  bold  face,  and  wav 
ing  my  arms,  I  said  to  my  imaginary 
company:  *ITp,  men.  up!" 

"The  rebels,  thinking  they  were 
cornered,  stacked  their  arms  in  re 
sponse  to  my  order  to  surrender.  I 
made  haste  to  get  between  them 
and  the  guns,  and  found  that  I  had 
fourteen  prisoners  and  a  flag  taken 
from  the  color-guard. 

"  While  thus  situated  I  saw  our 
colonel  advancing  up  the  road.  Just 
out  of  gunshot  he  stopped,  and  tak 
ing  his  ^linmiy  carefully  scanned  my 
party.  Be  then  approached,  and, 
learning  the  details,  rode  back  for  a  guard,  to  whom  I  handed  over  the  prisoners. 
~  Knowing  that  the  mountain  top  was  the  position  to  be  secured  by  my  regi 
ment,  I  went  up  in  advance,  and  when  they  arrived  and  saw  the  captured 
flag  they  gave  three  hearty  cheers.  I  spoke  to  the  colonel  about  my  wounded 
comrade  lying  far  down  the  mountain  side,  and  a  party  was  sent  at  once  to 
bring  him  in. 

~The  morning  following  this  episode  found  us  on  the  march  to  Antietam, 
where  we  arrived  at  three  o'clock  and  went  into  the  fight,  charging  a  battery 
that  was  shelling  our  General  Hospital,  where  the  surgeona  were  at  work.  We 
silenced  the  battery  and  then  lay  on  the  ground,  in  position,  for  twenty- 
four  hours." 


. 

~'-—    i    ' 


JOHN  COOK,  THE  BOY  GUNNER 


I  WAS  fifteen  years  of  age.  and  was  bugler 
of    Battery  B.  which  suffered    fearful 
losses   in   the   field   at   Antietam  where   I 
won  my  Medal   of   Honor."  writes   Bugler 
John  Cook. 

neraJ  Gibbon,  our  commander,  had 
just  ordered  Lieutenant  Stewart  to  take 
his  section  about  one  hundred  yards  to  the 
right  of  the  Hagerstown  Pike,  in  front  of 
two  straw  stacks,  when  he  beckoned  me 
to  follow.  Xo  sooner  had  we  unlinibered. 
when  a  column  of  Confederate  infantry, 
emerging  from  the  so-called  west  woods, 
poured  a  volley  into  us.  which  brought 
fourteen  or  seventeen  of  my  brave  com 
rades  to  the  ground.  The  two  straw  stacks 
offered  some  kind  of  shelter  for  our  wounded, 
and  it  was  a  sickening  sight  to  see  those 
poor,  maimed,  and  crippled  fellows,  crowding  on  top  of  one  another,  while  sev 
eral  stepping  but  a  few  feet  away,  were  hit  again  or  killed. 

-Just  then  Captain  Campbell  unlimbered  the  other  four  guns  to  the  left  of 
Stewart,  and  I  reported  to  him.  He  had  just  dismounted,  when  he  was  hit 
twice,  and  his  horse  fell  dead,  with  several  bullets  in  its  body.  I  started  with  the 
captain  to  the  rear  and  turned  him  over  to  one  of  the  drivers.  He  ordered  me  to 
report  to  Lieutenant  Stewart  and  tell  him  to  take  command  of  the  battery.  I  re 
ported,  and,  seeing  the  cannoneers  nearly  all  down,  and  one.  with  a  pouch  full  of 


JOHX  COOK, 

"-     _•  •  •    7     v-  -7  :     r:  .."."«.-.--.        •; 
!•:"::.'_        .:      •,-  :    .-.    _•   1     >-" 


ABtittim. — After  MB  repute  at  Sooth  Mountain.  General  Lee,  with  his  force  reduced  to  about  50,000 
crossed  Antietam  Creek  and  took  op  a  strong  position,  with  both  flanks  Testing  on  the  Potomac,  the  creek 
loving  in  front,  crossed  by  three  bridges  and  two  ford*,  all  bat  the  north  bridge  being  strongly  guarded. 
In  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  the  16th  of  September.  1862.  General  Hooker  crossed  the  Antietam  by  the 
opper  bridge,  and,  assisted  by  Somner's  Corps,  attacked  Jackson's  flank  the  next  morning,  when  the  bloody 
battle  began  in  earnest. 

At  one  o'clock  Burnade  carried  the  ridge  commanding  Sharpsburg  and  captured  a  battery,  but  a  Con 
federate  division.  2,000  strong,  coming  op.  compelled  him  to  abandon  it. 

Aboot  this  time  die  battle  ceased  withoot  apparent  victory  to  either  side  and  with  terrible  slaughter 
on  both. 

Two-thirds  of  MeClellan's  force  of  90J900  had  been  engaged  with  Lee's  entire  army.  The  Union  lose 
was  12.489.  of  which  number  2j010  were  killed.  The  Confederates'  total  loss  was  over  25.000. 


—  76  — 


ammunition,  lying  dead,  I  unstrapped  the  pouch,  started  for  the  battery,  and  worked 
as  a  cannoneer.  We  were  then  in  the  very  vortex  of  the  battle.  The  enemy  had  made 
three  desperate  attempts  to  capture  us,  the  last  time  coming  within  ten  or  fifteen  feet 

of  our  guns.     It  was  at  this  time  that  General 
Gibbon,  seeing  the  condition  of  the  bat 
tery,  came  to  the  gun   that   stood   in 
the  pike,  and   in  full  uniform  of  a 
brigadier-general,  worked  as  a  gun 
ner  and  cannoneer.     He  was  very 
conspicuous,  and  it  is  indeed  sur 
prising,  that  he  came  away  alive. 
"At  this  battle  we  lost  forty- 
four  men,  killed  and  wounded,  and 
about  forty  horses  which  shows 
how  hard  a  fight  it  was." 
Bugler  John  Cook, 
although  but  fourteen 
years  of  age  when  he 
enlisted,  showed  great 
courage  and  daring  in 
every  battle  in  which 
he     participated.      At 
Gettysburg,  Captain 
Stewart  was  compelled 
to  use  the  bugler  as  an 
orderly     because     the 
battery   suffered   such 
heavy  losses.     He  car 
ried  messages  to  the 
left  half  of  the  battery, 
nearly    a    half     mile 
away,    the    route    be 
ing    well    covered    by 
the  enemy's  riflemen, 
who  lost  no  opportuni 
ty  of  firing  at  him,  thus 

making  it  a  most  perilous  undertaking.  At  the  same  battle  he  assisted  in  de 
stroying  the  ammunition  of  a  damaged  and  abandoned  caisson,  to  prevent  its 
being  of  use  to  the  enemy,  who  were  closing  in  on  the  Union  men. 


ASSISTING  THE  CAPTAIN 


"BOB,   I'LL  HELP  THE  DOE-BOYS." 


THE  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery  being  short  of  men,  and  unable  to  get  recruits  for 
the  regular  service,  Captain  Gibbon  obtained  permission  from   the   War  De 
partment,  to  til]    his   battery   detaching  men   from   volunteer  regiments.     One  of 

the    men    selected    from    the 
many  who  responded 
to    the    call    was 
Private     Wil 
liam    P.    Ho- 
garty    of    the 
Twenty  -  third 
New  York  In 
fantry. 

He  was  one 
of  the  volun 
teers  who  were 

"Si"""- 

promoted  to  the 
vacancies   in    the 
rank     of    non-com 
missioned  officers,  and 
was  made  lance  corporal. 
It    is    necessary  to   explain 

here,  that  detached  volunteers  cannot  hold  an  actual  rank  in  the  regular  service. 
Hence,  when  Hogarty  was  promoted  lance  corporal  to  h'll  the  vacancy  in  the 
rank  of  non-commissioned  officers,  the  duties  and  obligations  of  that  rank  were 
exacted  of  him,  though  his  pay  and  actual  rank  were  not  above  that  of  a  private. 
Bright  and  early  on  the  morning  of  September  17,  1862,  made  over  memorable 
as  the  bloodiest  one-day  battle  of  the  war,  General  Gibbon  gave  orders  to  Lieuten 
ant  Stewart,  commanding  the  center  section,  to  go  to  the  front  with  the  ut 
most  speed,  and  take  position  in  advance  of  the  skirmish  line,  on  an  elevated 
piece  of  ground  to  the  right  of  the  Hagerstown  road,  in  front  of  a  cluster  of 
wheat  stacks,  and  facing  the  Dunker  Church  about  a  half  mile  distant.  The  section 
came  into  action,  the  cannoneers  mounted  and  the  horses  started  on  a  run.  The 
men  had  barely  time  to  unlimber  the  guns,  when  the  charging  columns  of  ''  Stone 
wall"  Jackson's  Infantry  were  upon  them,  determined  to  capture  the  section 
and  turn  the  right  wing  of  the  army.  This  furious  onslaught  was  met  by  a 
rapid,  accurate,  and  deadly  fire  from  these  two  Napoleon  guns  of  Stewart's  sec 
tion,  triple  shotted  with  canister,  which  stopped  the  charge,  driving  the  enemy 
back  with  fearful  loss.  In  this  charge  Stewart's  section  lost  fourteen  men  out 
of  twenty-four  actually  engaged  at  the  guns. 


WILLIAM   P.  HOGARTY, 

Private,  Co.  D,  23d  New  York  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Lieutenant,  U.  S.  A.,  and  Captain,  U.  S.  Vols. 
Born  in  New  York  City,  Feb.  16, 1840. 


—  78  — 

While  the  enemy  were  reforming  their  lines  preparatory  to  renewing  their 
attack,  the  other  four  guns  of  the  battery  under  the  command  of  Captain  J.  B. 
Campbell  came  up  taking  position  on  the  right  and  left  of  Stewart's  section, 
the  left  gun  resting  on  the  Hagerstown  Pike. 

The  battery  had  little  opportunity  to  remove  its  wounded  to  a  barn  in  the 
rear  of  the  wheat  stacks,  and  to  replenish  its  exhausted  ammunition,  when  the 
re-enforced  columns  of  Jackson's  Corps  again  came  madly  charging  on  the  bat 
tery.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy's  artillery,  massed  on  a  hill  to  the  right, 
opened  fire  on  it.  This  time,  however,  the  charging  masses  were  met  by  the 
withering  fire  of  the  entire  six  guns,  each  double  and  triple  shotted  with  can 
ister.  At  this  critical  juncture  the  "Iron  Brigade"  charged  the  enemy  on  the 
right,  and  a  New  York  brigade,  through  the  cornfield  on  the  left.  During  the 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  that  the  battle  raged  around  Battery  B,  it  seemed 
that  all  the  missiles  of  destruction  were  flying  through  the  sulphur-laden  atmos 
phere  screeching,  hissing,  howling  their  discordant  song  of  death. 

During  this  final  charge,  Corporal  Hogarty  perceived  through  the  stifling  air 
one  of  the  guns  of  the  battery,  at  which  all  the  men  had  been  killed  or  disa 
bled,  standing  idle  on  the  summit  of  the  slightly  elevated  ground,  in  a  very 
commanding  position,  just  in  advance  of  the  line  of  battle.  He  seized  a  shrap 
nel,  cut  the  fuse  to  explode  the  shell  the  moment  it  left  the  muzzle  of  the 
gun,  and  alone  and  unaided  fired  it  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 

With  a  few  remaining  men  and  horses  the  battery  was  moved  into  the  corn 
field  on  the  left  of  the  Hagerstown  Pike,  and  again  unlimbered  for  action  in 
the  rear  of  a  firing  line  of  infantry,  which  acted  as  a  screen  and  prevented  it 
from  again  becoming  engaged.  While  here  awaiting  orders,  Corporal  Hogarty 
picked  up  a  loaded,  new  .Springfield  rifle  from  the  side  of  a  dead  soldier.  The 
gun  was  capped  and  ready  for  firing.  Turning  to  one  of  his  comrades  Hogarty 
said:  "Bob,  the  supply  of  ammunition  is  running  mighty  low  to-day,  I  think  I 
will  take  this  gun  up  to  the  firing  line  and  help  the  'Doe-boys.'  (Doe-boys  was 
a  nickname  for  infantry  soldiers.) 

After  the  battle  of  Antietam  the  battery,  its  ranks  depleted  marched  with 
the  advance  of  the  army  through  Northern  Virginia  to  Fredericksburg  in  pur 
suit  of  the  retreating  enemy. 

On  the  evening  of  December  12,  1862,  Battery  B,  with  the  advance  of  the 
First  Corps,  crossed  the  Rappahannock  River  at  the  lower  pontoon  bridge. 

The  next  morning,  the  13th,  the  battery  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  extreme 
left  of  the  army,  driving  them  from  their  entrenchments.  It  then  swung  up  to 
the  Bowling  Green  road,  and  immediately  became  engaged  with  a  couple  of  the 
enemy's  batteries  posted  in  their  front  in  a  commanding  position. 

The  rebels  having  previously  measured  the  ground  closely,  marked  the  dis 
tances,  opened  fire  on  the  battery  with  deadly  accuracy,  but  "old  Battery  B" 
soon  silenced  them,  dismounting  their  guns  and  blowing  up  their  caissons.  At 


—  79  — 

this  critical  point,  while  getting  the  range  for  his  guns,  Corporal  Hogarty  was 
wounded  by  a  four-inch  solid  shot  striking  him  just  above  the  elbow,  tearing 
off  his  left  arm,  necessitating  subsequent  amputation  at  the  shoulder.  The  force 
of  the  blow  whirled  him  around.  He  fell,  landing  on  his  right  arm  and  elbow. 
He  was  not,  however,  rendered  unconscious.  Three  of  his  comrades  seeing  him 
fall  came  to  his  assistance,  and  with  a  stick  twisted  a  handkerchief  around  his 
arm  at  the  shoulder  to  stop,  as  much  as  possible,  the  flow  of  blood. 


AT  BLOODY  LANE 


SAMUEL  C.  WRIGHT, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  29th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Plympton,  Plymouth  Co.,  Mass., 

Sept.  29, 1842. 


SERGEANT  SAMUEL  C.  WRIGHT,  during  his  service  iii  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  participated  in  thirty  battles. 
In  those  engagements  he  was  wounded  five  times 
and  twice  reported  dead.  On  one  occasion  he  was 
shot  directly  in  the  right  eye,  and  still  keeps  the 
bullet  as  an  awful  souvenir  of  his  closeness  to  death. 
In  speaking  of  the  taking  of  the  fence  at  Antietam, 
he  says  nothing  of  his  own  action  but  describes  the 
wild  rush  and  retreat  of  the  volunteers  for  that  des 
perate  service. 

"September  16,  1862,  found  our  division  (Richard 
son's)  in  the  advance  from  South  Mountain  to  An 
tietam,  where  we  came  upon  the  enemy.  The  shot  from  the  first  piece  of  artil 
lery  fired  took  off  the  leg  of  the  color-bearer  of  my  regiment.  During  the 
afternoon  of  that  day  the  artillery  fight  was  at  times  very  lively.  Early  the 
next  morning  troops  were  sent  to  engage  the  enemy  in  our  front.  The  roar  of 
cannon  and  small  arms  was  deafening.  But,  while,  from  where  we  lay  we  could  only 
hear  the  cannonading,  we  could  not  see  the  enemy,  as  a  growth  of  woods  im 
paired  our  view.  It  was.  perhaps,  as  well,  that  we  could  not  see  the  carnage  wrought. 
"Soon  an  aid-de-camp,  whose  horse  was  white  with  foam,  rode  up  to  our 
position  and  ordered  us  to  cross  to  the  support  of  the  troops  so  hotly  engaged. 
We  left  hurriedly,  made  a  detour  to  the  right  and  left,  and  were  soon  fording 
Antietam  Creek.  The  stream  was  so  deep,  that  in  crossing,  we  had  only  to  re 
move  the  stoppers  of  our  canteens  and  they  would  fill  themselves.  We  held 
rifles  and  ammunition  above  our  heads.  The  opposite  bank  reached,  we  re 
moved  our  shoes,  wrung  out  our  stockings,  and  were  then  ordered  forward, 
straight  toward  the  'Sunken  Road.'  Going  up  the  hill  we  could  see  the  cause 
of  our  sudden  call.  The  hill  was  strewn  with  dead  and  dying;  yes,  and  with 
those  unhurt,  for  to  stand  was  to  be  instantly  killed  by  the  sharpshooters  who 


—  80  — 


filled  the  'Sunken  Koad.'      The   main   army   in    line  was  only  a  few  feet  to  the 
rear  of  them. 

"Some  200  yards  in  advance  of  our  position,  which  we  were  holding  at  a 
terrible  cost,  was  a  fence  built  high  and  strong.  The  troops  in  advance  had  tried  to 
scale  the  fence  and  reform  under  that  hell  of  fire.  They  were  actually  torn  in 
shreds  and  wedged  into  the  fence. 

''The  cry  came  to  us  for  volunteers  to  pull  down  the  fence.     Instantly  there 
sprang  from  the  long  line,  fast  being  shortened  as  the  ranks  closed  up  over  the 
dead,  seventy-six  volunteers.     We  ran  straight  for  the 
fence  amid  a  hail  of  iron  and  lead,  the  dead  falling  all 
about  us,  but  to  reach  the  fence  was  our  only  thought, 
A   part    of    the    force    reached    it,  and,   as   one  would 
grasp  a  rail  it  would  be   sent   flying  out  of  his  hands 
by  rifle-shots. 

"  The  fence  leveled,  we  made  the  attempt  to  return, 
and  it  was  as  hot  for  us  on  the  retreat, 
as  it  had  been  on  the  advance. 
Few    escaped    death    or 
wounds.    I    had    almost 
regained    my    regiment, 
when  I  was  hit.    The  line 
then  successfully  pressed 
on,   and    the    'Sunken 
Koad,'  or  'Bloody  Lane,' 
as  it  is  now  known,  was 
within  our  lines." 

Sergeant  Wright's  in 
trepidity  and  fine  soldier 
ly  qualities  were  readily 
conceded  by  his  superior 
officers  and  found  sub 
stantial  recognition  by 
two  promotions  on  the 
field  of  battle.  He  was 
further  rewarded  by  be 
ing  placed  in  charge  of 
the  prisons  at  Paris,  Ky., 
and  Tazewell,  East  Ten 


nessee. 


"AMID  A  HAIL  OF  LEAD" 


—  81  — 


CARED    FOR  THE    WOUNDED 
AMIDST  A  HAIL  OF  BULLETS 


DR.  RICHARD    CURRAN, 

Asst-Surgeon,  33d  N.  Y.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Ireland. 


THE   morning   of   September   17.  1862,   the 
command  to  which  I  belonged  arrived,  after 
a   forced  march,  on  the    battlefield   of   Antietam," 
Assistant-Surgeon  Richard  Curran  writes.     "My  regi 
ment  and  brigade  were  immediately  put  into  action.     I 
was  the  only  medical  officer  present,  and,  in  the  absence 
of  orders  how  to  proceed  or  where  to  report.  I  decided  to 
foJlowr  my  regiment,  a  course  which  brought  me  at  once 
into  the  midst  of  a  battle,  terrible  but  brief,  as  the  enemy, 
after  a  stubborn  resistance,  yielded,  and  fell   far  to  the 
rear.      The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  sustained  by  the 
Third  Brigade  in  this  charge,  and  in  the  subsequent  effort  to  hold  the  position, 
was  813. 

"  The  ground  of  the  battlefield  at  this  point  was  a  shallow  valley  looking 
east  and  wTest.  The  elevated  land  on  the  south  was  occupied  by  the  Confeder 
ates,  while  the  slight  ridge  on  the  north  was  held  by  our  troops  and  batteries. 
From  this  formation  of  ground  it  was  impossible  for  our  wounded  to  reach  the 
field  hospital  without  being  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  In  a  battle  men 
will  suffer  their  wounds  to  go  uncared  for  and  undressed  for  a  long  time,  if  in 
a  measurably  secure  place,  rather  than  expose  their  lives  to  obtain  surgical  at 
tention;  and  this  was  the  case  with  our  wounded.  At  this  point  the  injured. 
Union  and  Confederate,  numbering  many  hundred,  preferred  to  remain  close  to 
the  ground,  and  in  shelter  of  the  valley,  rather  than  take  the  risk  of  seeking 
care  in  the  rear.  During  the  severest  of  the  fight,  and  later  on,  I  was  told 
many  times  by  the  officers  and  men,  that  if  I  did  not  seek  a  place  of  safety  I 
\vould  surely  be  killed.  I  realized  that  the  danger  was  great,  and  the  warnings 
just,  for,  in  the  performance  of  my  work  I  had  to  be  on  my  feet  constantly, 
with  no  chance  to  seek  protection.  But  here  were  the  wounded  and  suffering  of 
my  command,  and  here  I  believed  was  my  place  of  duty,  even  if  it  cost  my  life. 

"Close  to  the  lines,  and  a  little  to  the  right,  were  a  number  of  straw  stacks. 
I  visited  the  place  and  found  that  many  of  the  disabled  had  availed  themselves 
of  this  protection.  Without  delay  I  had  the  wounded  led  or  carried  to  the 
place,  and  here,  with  such  assistance  as  I  could  organize,  although  exposed  to 
the  overhead  firing  of  shot  and  shell.  I  worked  with  all  the  zeal  and  strength  1 
could  muster,  caring  for  the  wounded  and  dying  until  far  into  the  night.  My 
only  fear  then  was  that  my  improvised  straw-stack  hospital  would  catch  fire. 


—  82  — 

But  we  were  spared  this  misfortune  and  the  harrowing  scene  wrhich  wrould  have 
followed.  That  there  was  good  reason  for  this  fear  is  illustrated  by  one  of 
very  many  similar  incidents.  While  dressing  a  wound  on  the  leg  of  a  soldier  I 
turned  away  to  get  something  to  be  used  in  the  dressing.  On  my  return  I  found 
the  leg  had  been  shot  off  by  a  cannon  ball. 

"Happily,"  the  doctor  concludes,  "in  no  other  position  could  I  have  rendered 


IMPROVISED  STRAW-STACK   HOSPITAL 

equally  good  service,  for  I  am  confident  that,  by  my  action,  many  lives  were 
saved." 

In  the  report  of  the  commanding  officers  of  the  brigade,  Doctor  Curran  is 
mentioned  in  one  place  as  follows: 

"Assistant-Surgeon  Richard  Curran,  of  the  Thirty-third  New  York  Volun 
teers,  was  in  charge  of  our  temporary  hospital,  which  unavoidably  was  under 
fire.  He  attended  faithfully  to  his  severe  duties,  and  I  beg  to  mention  this 
officer  with  particular  commendation.  His  example  is  most  unfortunately  but 
too  rare." 


—  83  — 


TO  SAVE  THE  STARS  AND  STRIPES 


T 


HE  First  Delaware  Infantry,"  Sec 
ond   Lieutenant   Charles   B.  Tan 


ner  writes,  "  formed  the  right  of  Briga 
dier-General  Weber's  Brigade.     On  the 
morning    of    the    17th    of    September, 
1862,   we    forded   Antietam   Creek  and 
marched  in  column  for  a  mile  and 
facing  to  the  left,  advanced  in  line 
of  battle.     We    now    formed    the 
first  line  of  General  French's  Divi 
sion  of  General   Sumner's   Second 
Army  Corps. 

"Presently    the    enemy's    batteries 
opened  a  severe  fire  of  spherical  case, 
shell    and    solid    shot.     We    advanced 
steadily    through   woods   and  cornfields,  driving   all 
before  us,  and   met   the   Confederates   in   two  lines 
of  battle,  posted  in  a   sunken  road   or  ravine,  with 
rudely   constructed   breastworks   of    rails,   sod,  etc., 
and  still  a  third  line   of  troops  in  a  cornfield  forty 
yards   in  the  rear,  where  the  ground  was  gradually 
rising  and   permitted   them   to   fire   at   us   over  the 
heads   of    those  below.     Our   right  was  also  exposed  to  the  sudden   and   terrible 
fire  from  the  troops  who  had  broken  the  center  division  of  our  formation. 

"The  cornfield,  where  we  had  taken  up  our  position  terminated  about  100 
yards  distant  from  the  sunken  road,  leaving  nothing  but  short  grass  pasture- 
land  between  us. 

"On  coming  out  of  the  corn,  we  were  unexpectedly  confronted  by  heavy 
masses  of  Confederate  infantry,  with  their  muskets  resting  on  the  temporary 
breastwork.  We  all  realized  that  the  slaughter  would  be  great,  but  not  a  man 
flinched,  and  cheerfully  we  went  to  our  baptism  of  fire. 

"Our  colonel  dashed  in  front  wTith  the  ringing  order:  'Charge!'  and  charge 
we  did  into  that  leaden  hail.  Within  less  than  five  minutes  286  men  out  of 
635,  and  eight  of  ten  company  commanders,  lay  wounded  or  dead  on  that 
bloody  slope.  The  colonel's  horse  had  been  struck  by  four  bullets;  the  lieu 
tenant-colonel  was  wounded  and  his  horse  killed,  and  our  dearly  loved  colors 
were  lying  within  twenty  yards  of  the  frowning  lines  of  muskets,  surrounded 
by  the  lifeless  bodies  of  nine  heroes,  who  died  while  trying  to  plant  them  in 
that  road  of  death. 


CHARLES   B.  TANNER, 
2d  Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  1st  Del.  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained :  1st  Lieut.  Vols. 
Born  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Nov.  25,  1842. 


—  84  — 


"  Those  of  us  who  were  yet  living  got  back  to  the  edge  of  the  cornfield,  and 
opened  such  a  fire,  that,  though  the  enemy  charged  five  times  to  gain  possession 
of  the  flag,  they  were  driven  back  each  time  with  terrible  slaughter. 

"  We  had   become   desperately   enraged,  thinking,  not   of  life,  but  how  to  re 
gain    the   broad   strips   of    bunting   under  which   we   had   marched,   bivouacked, 
suffered,  and  seen  our  comrades 
killed.      To    lose   what   we    had 
sworn  to  defend  with  our  blood, 
would  have  been,  in  our  minds,  a 
disgrace,  and  every  man  of  the 
First    Delaware    was    ready    to 
perish,    rather    than    allow   the 
colors  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.    Two  hundred  rifles 
guarded  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
and,  if  they  were  not  to  be 
recovered  by  us,  the  foe 
should     not    have    them, 
while  a  single  member  of 
the    regiment    remained 
alive. 

"Charge   after   charge 
was  made,  and  the  gallant 
Fifth   Maryland,  forming 
on  our  left,  aided  in 
the  defense.    The  fire 
from  our  lines  direct 
ed  to  the    center   of 
that    dense    mass    of 
Confederates,  was  appall 
ing.     Over  thirteen  hun 
dred   noble   dead   were    covered 
with  earth  in  that  sunken  road 
by  the    burying    party    on    the 
following  day. 

"When  the  Maryland  boys  joined  us,  Captain  Rickets,  of  Company  C,  our 
regiment,  called  for  volunteers  to  save  the  colors,  and  more  than  thirty  brave 
fellows  responded.  It  seemed  as  if  they  had  but  just  started,  when  at  least 
twenty,  including  the  gallant  leader,  were  killed  and  those  who  would  have 
rushed  forward,  were  forced  back  by  the  withering  fire. 

"Maddened,  and  more  desperate  than  ever,  I  called  for  the  men  to  make 
another  effort,  and  before  we  marched  fifty  yards  only  a  scattering  few  remained 


I   REACHED  THE  GOAL' 


—  85  — 

able  to  get  back  to  the  friendly  corn,  in  which  we  sought  refuge  from  the  tem 
pest  of  death. 

"  Then  Major  Thomas  A.  Smyth  ( afterward  Major-General,  and  killed 
on  the  day  General  Lee  surrendered )  said  he  would  concentrate  twenty-five 
picked  men.  whose  fire  should  be  directed  right  over  the  colors. 

'"Do  it,'  I  cried,  'and  I  will  get  there!' 

"There  were  hundreds  of  brave  men  yet  alive  on  that  awful  field,  and,  at  my 
call  for  assistance,  twenty  sprang  toward  me. 

"While  covering  that  short  distance,  it  seemed  as  if  a  million  bees  were 
singing  in  the  air.  The  shouts  and  yells  from  either  side  sounded  like  menaces 
and  threats.  But  I  had  reached  the  goal,  had  caught  up  the  staff  which  was 
already  splintered  by  shot,  and  the  colors  pierced  with  many  a  hole,  and  stained 
here  and  there  with  the  lifeblood  of  our  comrades,  when  a  bullet  shattered  my 
arm.  Luckily  my  legs  were  still  serviceable,  and,  seizing  the  precious  bunting 
with  my  left  hand,  I  made  the  best  eighty-yard  time  on  record,  receiving  two 
more  wounds. 

"The  colors  were  landed  safely  among  the  men  of  our  regiment  just  as  a 
large  body  of  Confederate  infantry  poured  in  on  our  flank,  compelling  us  to  face 
in  a  different  direction.  We  had  the  flags,  however,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
First  Delaware  held  them  against  all  comers." 

Lieutenant  Tanner  modestly  forgets  to  mention  one  fact  in  his  vivid  pen- 
picture,  to  wit:  That  he  was  promoted  on  the  spot  and  his  bravery  formed 
the  text  of  a  flattering  report. 

After  recovering  from  his  wounds  he  participated  in  several  engagements 
equally  as  exciting,  and  one  year  later  was  so  badly  disabled,  that  he  was 
given  his  discharge.  Nevertheless,  three  months  later  the  lieutenant  again  took 
up  the  sword  and  remained  in  active  service  until  the  war  had  virtually  come 
to  an  end.  Altogether  he  was  wounded  three  times  and  has  had  as  many  nar 
row  escapes  from  death  as  any  soldier  in  the  army. 


JACOB    G.  ORTH, 

Corporal,  Co.  D,  28th  Pa.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  Nov.  25, 1&37. 


A  STRUGGLE  FOR 

THE  COLORS 


JACOB  G.  ORTH  disposes  of  his  own  daring  exploit  with  the  follow- 
ing  sketch :  "  Business  commenced  quite  early  for  the  Twenty-eighth  Penn 
sylvania  Infantry  at  Antietam.  It  was  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  we 
charged  and  drove  the  rebels  back  across  the  fields  to  an  apple  orchard  where 
we  encountered  a  very  hard  task.  No  less  than  three  rebel  regiments  and  a 
battery  were  our  opponents.  To  secure  a  victory  over  them  meant  hard 
fighting. 

"  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  encounter  the  color-sergeant  of  the  Seventh  South  Car 
olina  regiment.  A  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued.  The  final  result  of  our  short  but 
sharp  conflict  was,  that  the  Carolinian  was  minus  his  flag,  and  I  had  secured 
the  trophy.  I  also  had  a  shot  wound  through  my  shoulder.  Six  other  stands  of 
colors  were  taken  by  our  regiment  in  this  charge." 

This  description,  though  brief,  is  sufficiently  clear  to  indicate  a  hard,  stub 
born,  and  desperate  struggle  between  two  men  intent  on  the  possession  of  the 
same  object,  and  reckless  of  the  consequences  to  themselves. 


WOUNDED  WHILE  CAPTURING  A  FLAG 


AT  THE  battle  of  Antietam,  Captain   Theodore  W.  Greig,  then  a  lieutenant  in 
the  Sixty-first  New  York   Infantry,  captured  the   battle  flag  of  the  Fourth 
Alabama.     The    two    regiments    were    close    together,    firing    into    each    other's 
ranks,  when,  with  a  bravado  spirit  the   Alabama  color-bearer  planted  his  flag  in 


—  87- 


the  ground  a  few  paces  in  front  of  his  regiment,  as  if  defying  the  Federals  and 
daring  them  to  capture  it. 

Grreig  saw  it,  and  the  thought  of  capturing  it  had  no  sooner  entered  his 
mind,  than  he  was  off,  running  like  mad  across  the  open  space.  The  flag  was 
in  his  hands  before  the  Alabamians  realized  what  was  happening,  but  as  the 
young  officer  started  back,  a  shower  of  bullets  was  sent  after  him.  Near  his 
lines  he  fell,  shot  in  the  neck,  but,  recovering  his  strength,  saved  the  flag  that 
he  had  so  gallantly  captured. 


SURROUNDED  BY  REBELS 


DURING  the  battle  at  Antietam,  Colonel  William  H.  Irwin,  finding  it  nec 
essary  to  dislodge  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  who  were  annoying  a  Union 
battery  of  four  Napoleon  guns,  ordered  the  Seventh  Maine  out  for  that  purpose. 
The  regiment  advanced  in  front  of  the  skirmishers  on  the  left.  Major  Hyde 
also  threw  out  skirmishers  and  soon  drove  in  those  of  the  enemy  from  the  edge 
of  a  cornfield  and  a  hollow  in  front  of  timber. 

The  battalion  was  ordered  forward,  and,  as  the  enemy  opened  fire  on  it  from 
the  front  and  left  flank,  a  charge  was  ordered.  With  fixed  bayonets  the  men 
rushed  forward  cheering,  led  by  the  gallant  major.  A  body  of  the  enemy  in  an 
orchard  to  the  left,  being  flanked,  broke  and  ran.  Those  directly  in  front,  be 
hind  haystacks  and  outbuildings,  also  broke,  and,  their  colors  having  fallen,  the 
Seventh  pushed  on  up  the  hill  to  secure  them,  when  a  rebel  regiment  suddenly 
rose  from  behind  a  stone  wall  on  its  right,  poured  in  a  volley,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  double-quicked  around  to  the  left  to  cut  off  the  retreat.  Those  in  front, 
seeing  the  small  number  of  Union  troops,  had  rallied  and  advanced  in  force. 

Looking  back  and  seeing  no  chance  to  escape,  Major  Hyde  marched  the  regi 
ment  by  the  left  flank,  formed  them  on  a  crest  in  the  orchard,  poured  a  volley 
into  those  who  were  endeavoring  to  cut  off  the  retreat,  and  faced  those  in  front. 
Here  the  regiment  received  a  severe  fire  from  three  directions.  A  rebel  battery 
opened  on  it  with  grape,  and  it  suffered  heavy  loss,  although  shielded  somewhat 
by  the  trees  of  the  orchard. 

Having  disposed  of  most  of  their  cartridges,  the  men  retreated  through  the 
orchard,  gave  the  rebels,  who  attempted  to  follow,  another  volley,  which  drove 
them  back,  and,  closing  up  on  their  colors,  marched  back  in  good  order  to  their 
old  position  on  the  left  of  the  Third  Brigade. 

The  affair  had  lasted  perhaps  thirty  minutes.  The  color-sergeant  was  killed 
and  all  the  other  guards  shot  but  one,  who  brought  off  the  regimental  flag  rid 
dled  with  bullets.  Of  the  181  men,  who  went  into  action,  there  were  twelve 
killed,  sixty-three  wounded,  and  twenty  missing. 


THE    LAST  ON   ANTIETAM'S 
BLOODY   BATTLEFIELD 


T 


FRANK   M.  WHITMAN, 

Corporal,  Co.  G,  35th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Woodstock,  Oxford  Co.,  Maine,  Sept.  30, 1838. 


o  VENTURE,  for  the  sake  of  wounded  com 
rades,  into  a  conspicuous  and  dangerous 
position    is    the    height    of    soldierly    pluck. 
Corporal    Frank    M.    Whitman     describes    it 
thus: 

"At  the  battle  of  Antietam,  General  Burn- 
side,  commander  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  was  or 
dered  to  take  and  hold  the  bridge  that  crossed 
a  stream  of  water,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
which  the  Confederates  were  in  large  force 
and  well  protected  by  the  natural  formation 
of  the  bank. 

"The  duty  of  taking  this  bridge  was  given  to  our  brigade  by  the  commander 
of  the  corps.  The  fight  was  a  fierce  one,  but  was  soon  won  by  our  forces.  We 
then  advanced  in  line  of  battle  up  the  hill,  driving  the  enemy  before  us,  until 
we  reached  a  very  high  stone  wall,  behind  which  they  made  another  stand. 
This  stone  wall  ran  along  the  ascending  slope  of  the  next  hill  beyond  the  one 
over  which  we  were  advancing.  Our  forces  steadily  went  up  and  over  the  first 
hill  and  were  part  way  down  the  descending  slope,  when  our  progress  was 
stopped  by  the  terrible  fire  of  the  enemy. 

"W^e  were  obliged  to  retire.  I  and  a  few  others  were  separated  from  our 
comrades  and  left  behind  with  the  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  We  fired  a 
last  volley,  receiving  one  in  return  which  sent  death  to  one  of  our  men. 

"  Lying  low  and  carefully  watching,  I  discovered  the  enemy  moving  to  an 
other  part  of  the  field  a  short  distance  away.  Cautiously  I  looked  around  among 
the  men,  and  found  that  two  besides  myself  were  alive  and  unhurt.  Turn  which 
way  one  would,  nothing  could  be  seen  or  heard  but  the  dead,  the  dying  and  the 
wounded,  and  the  suppressed  moans  and  cries  of  agony  from  all  directions;  here 
and  there  cries  for  a  cooling  drink  of  water,  or  a  call  for  assistance  and  a  help 
ing  hand.  Mangled  bodies  of  brave  men,  wherever  one  turned!  A  ghastly  scene, 
that  will  ever  be  before  my  eyes! 

"We  three  undertook  to  relieve  the  suffering  as  far  as  we  could  and  to  get 
the  wounded  away  from  the  place.  This  work  we  continued  for  several  hours, 
after  which  we  set  out  to  find  the  regiment.  On  regaining  our  lines,  at  my 
urgent  solicitation,  two  officers  and  a  number  of  men  were  sent  with  me  to  re 
move  as  many  wounded  as  possible  without  drawing  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 


"On  returning  to  the  field,  we  found  that  the  enemy  had  advanced  his  picket 
line  some  distance  beyond  his  own  line,  and  well  up  to  that  of  ours.  Because 
of  this  advance  our  picket  would  not  allow  us  to  go  outside  of  the  lines,  but  1 
pleaded  with  him  so  earnestly,  that  I  was  permitted  to  make  the  attempt  to 
get  a  wounded  comrade  of  my  own  company.  This  was  a  very  delicate  task, 
for  had  I  attracted  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  an  engagement  would,  without 


I   REACHED 

MY  WOUNDED  COMRADE" 


doubt,  have  been  precipitated.  Stealthily,  however,  I  worked  my  way  to  where 
my  comrade  lay,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  told  him  in  a 
whisper  what  I  could  do  for  him  with  his  co-operation.  My  friend,  though  suf 
fering  great  pain  from  a  wound  in  the  leg  that  caused  his  death  three  weeks 
afterward,  mutely  and  thankfully  took  up  the  journey  to  our  lines,  which,  though 
near,  seemed  yet  so  far  away.  With  great  difficulty  the  task  was  accom 
plished,  and  we  got  within  the  lines,  unobserved  by  the  enemy,  or  at  least 
without  drawing  their  fire.  The  two  officers  and  other  men  were  able  to 
remove  quite  a  number  of  our  wounded  to  a  place  where  they  could  receive 
medical  care. 


—  90  — 

"  The  morning  dawned  sad  and  dreary  through  the  falling  rain.  Company  G 
was  astir  early,  and  counting  its  members,  I  saw  only  eight  present,  with  myself 
the  sole  surviving  company  officer.  All  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers 
who  had  been  in  action,  except  myself,  were  gone.  Nine  were  killed  and 
thirty-five  wounded." 
In  a  later  engagement  the  brave  corporal  was  shot  and  lost  his  right  leg. 


THE  FLAG  WAS  SAVED 


THE  usually  brief  and  indifferent  official 
record  grows  more  eloquent  when  it 
refers  to  Sergeant  William  H.  Paul  and  his 
inspiring  behavior  on  the  field  of  battle. 
The  sergeant  himself,  modest  as  well  as 
brave,  tells  the  following: 

"During  the  battle  of  Antietam,  our 
corps  was  being  vigorously  attacked  in  a 
wooded  and  hilly  part  of  the  country, 
where  our  forces  could  not  very  well  cope 
with  an  enemy  accustomed  to  bush  fight 
ing.  Nevertheless,  in  a  hard  and  deadly 
struggle  we  were  slowly  but  surely  driv 
ing  the  enemy  back,  when  Color-Sergeant 
Mason,  who  was  in  advance  of  our  lines  some 
four  or  five  yards,  cheering  us  on,  was  shot. 

"  A  rebel  detachment  immediately  rushed  forward  to  capture  the  fallen 
colors.  Seeing  this,  I  placed  myself  at  the  head  of  a  few  men,  probably  ten  in 
number,  and  charged  out  to  meet  the  enemy,  and  if  possible  rescue  the 
colors.  We  clashed  with  a  shock,  and  a  sharp  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued  in 
which  two  of  our  men  were  killed  and  five  so  severely  wounded,  that  they 
were  unable  to  be  of  any  assistance. 

"A  rebel  had  already  seized  the  colors,  but  I  grasped  them  and  with  one 
supreme  effort  wrenched  the  precious  banner  from  his  hold.  Waving  it  high 
above  my  head,  I  carried  it  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  battle.  In  the 
melee  my  comrades  managed  to  kill  one  of  the  enemy  and  capture  another. 

"I  afterwards  carried  the  flag  in  all  the  battles  in  which  our  regiment  par 
ticipated,  until  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  when  I  was  relieved  from  further 
duty  as  color-bearer,  because  of  a  wound  received  during  that  battle." 


WILLIAM   H.  PAUL, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  90th  Pa.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Oct.  3, 1844. 


—  91  — 


PLACED  HIS  COMRADE'S  LIFE 
ABOVE  HIS  OWN 


AN  INCIDENT  during  the  battle  of  Antietam  made 
a  hero  of  Corporal  Ignatz  dresser  of  the  One 
hundred  and  twenty-eighth  Pennsylvania  Infantry 
and  saved  the  life  of  a  brave  Union  soldier  from 
an  almost  certain  death.  In  the  heat  of  the 
struggle,  when  the  telling  fire  of  both  armies 
brought  havoc  to  Union  and  Confederate  ranks, 
Gresser  saw  one  of  his  comrades  drop  to  the 
ground,  struck  by  the  enemy's  bullet.  To  leave 
him  where  he  had  fallen,  meant  death,  almost 
inevitable;  but  to  get  at  his  side  and  carry  him  off,  was  equally  as  dan 
gerous.  Gresser  placed  the  life  of  his  wounded  comrade  above  his  own  and 
undertook  the  perilous  task.  He  succeeded  in  carrying  on  his  strong  arms  the 
wounded  man  to  the  rear,  miraculously  escaping  the  deadly  hail  of  balls  and 
bullets.  Thus  it  was,  that  Corporal  Gresser  earned  his  medal. 


IGNATZ    GRESSER, 

Corporal,  Co.  D,  128th  Pa.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Germany. 


ATTEMPTED  TO  SPIKE 

AN  ABANDONED  GUN 


WHEN  the  Union  troops  fell  back  across  the  Potomac,  at  Shepherdstown  Ford, 
Va.,  on  the  20th  of  September,  1862,  they  had  to  leave  a  number  of  fieldpieces 
to  the  advancing  Confederates.  The  enemy,  however,  gained  nothing  by  their 
capture,  as  almost  every  gun  had  been  spiked.  As  the  Second  U.  S.  Infantry 
was  retiring  an  officer  of  the  regiment  presently  remembered  that  one  large 
gun  had  been  overlooked  and  left  unspiked. 

"Who  is  willing  to  go  and  spike  that  gun?"  he  inquired. 

First  Sergeant  Daniel  W.  Burke  of  Company  B,  at  once  offered  his  services. 
The  fire  from  the  enemy  was  severe,  but  nothing  daunted,  he  started  out  on 
his  perilous  task  and  boldly  attempted  to  unfit  this  gun  for  further  service. 
After  repeated  attempts  to  fulfill  his  mission,  he  saw  that  the  task  was  impos 
sible  of  accomplishment,  and  reluctantly  returned  to  his  own  lines,  which  he 
reached  in  safety.  He  was  thereupon  complimented  by  his  superior  officers  for 
his  display  of  coolness  and  courage. 


—  92  — 


AIM  LOW  AND 

GIVE  THEM  H--L!" 


CYRUS    SEARS, 

1st  Lieutenant,  llth  Ohio  Artillery. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Born  in  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  10, 1832. 


T  IUKA  the  Eleventh  Ohio   Battery  under  my 

command  made  a  most  desperate  fight, 
which  was  not  only  returned  'full  measure, 
pressed   down   and    overflowing,'    but    in 
which  it  lost,   in    killed    and    wounded, 
over    52  per  cent  of  its  entire  force  and 
over  88    per   cent   of   its    combatants  or 
cannoneers — or  forty-eight  out   of  fifty- 
four  men. 

"  The  part  taken  by  this  battery  in 
the  field  was  in  violation  of  orders. 
When  wre  reached  a  point  just  south  of 
its  battle  ground  —  which  was  done  un 
der  pretty  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery  and  infantry — I  was  ordered 
to  '  form  in  battery '  at  a  point  designated,  and  '  await  further  orders.'  These 
orders  never  came,  but  the  enemy  did.  in  force,  sneaking  up  with  their  pieces  at 
'charge  bayonets/  in  plain  view  and  at  easy  canister  range.  Though  just  then  there 
was  a  comparative  lull  in  the  enemy's  firing,  their  bullets  were  s-s-z-z-z-ipping 
among  the  battery  with  very  uncomfortable  frequency,  and  occasionally  winging  a 
two  or  four-footed  victim.  On  the  charging  masses  came,  150  or  200  yards.  Still  the 
battery  was  waiting  '  further  orders/  every  man  at  his  post,  toeing  the  mark, 
with  everything  '  ready '  under  fire. 

"  Of  course,  this  wait  was  not  actually  long,  though  it  seemed  longer  than 
the  whole  fight.  Naturally,  the  boys  grew  uneasy,  and  chafed  from  seeing  such 
splendid  chances  for  the  most  beautiful  spot-shot  going  to  waste,  and  gave  ex 
pression  to  views  on  the  conduct  of  the  war  accordingly. 


I uka. — The  battle  of  luka  was  fought  on  the  19th  of  September,  1862.  General  Grant,  commanding 
the  Union  forces  entrenched  at  Corinth  on  the  Tennessee  River,  sent  General  Rosecrans  with  20,000  men  to 
Rienzi,  and  General  Ord  with  another  body  of  troops  to  luka.  This  plan,  if  successful,  would  have  caught 
the  rebels  in  a  triangle.  General  Price,  who  led  the  Confederate  troops,  evaded  the  trap  and  crossed  the 
country  diagonally  toward  luka.  Rosecrans  followed  in  close  pursuit  and  overtook  the  rear  guard  at  luka. 
That  night  the  hostile  armies  camped  in  sight  of  each  other  and  clashed  at  daybreak.  General  Hamilton 
held  the  Federal  right,  Rosecrans  commanded  the  center,  and  General  Stanley  the  left.  The  battle  lasted 
until  noon.  The  telling  fire  of  the  Federal  artillery  decided  the  day  in  favor  of  the  Union  cause.  The 
rebels  were  routed  and  escaped  with  a  loss  of  300  prisoners  and  500  killed  and  wounded.  The  Federal  loss 
was  350  killed  and  wounded. 


—  93  — 

"For  example,  one  sergeant  said: 

"  '  By  God,  I  guess  we're  going  to  let  them  gobble  the  whole  damned  shooting 
match  before  we  strike  a  lick,  if  we  don't  mind  and  quickly  too.' 

"A  corporal  replied:     'I  guess  we  are  obeying  orders.' 

'"Damn  the  orders!  To  wait  for  orders  in  a  time  like  this!'  the  sergeant  re 
torted. 

"  This  dialogue  struck  a  responsive  chord  in  my  mind,  and  was,  perhaps,  the 
last  straw  that  moved  me  to  take  a  chance  and  shoulder  the  responsibility.  I 


"OUR  BATTERY  POURED  A  DEADLY  FIRE  UPON   THE  ENEMY" 

gave  the  order:  '  With  canister,  load,  aim  low.  and  give  them  hell  as  fast  as 
you  can ! '  And  so  the  fight  was  on. 

"  Before  the  end  it  became  evident  that  the  position  of  the  guns  of  this  bat 
tery  had  become  so  much  the  bone  of  contention  in  that  fight,  that  everything 
else,  both  flags,  the  Union  and  the  Confederacy,  and  even  the  'damned  nigger' 
were  forgotten  in  that  all-absorbing,  handspike  and  ramrod,  rough-and-tumble, 
devil-take-the-hindmost  fight  for  those  six  guns. 

"  I  was  wounded,  and  after  the  battle  was  ordered  home  to  Ohio  for  repairs.'' 

In  recalling  the  fight,  Lieutenant  Cyrus  Sears  quotes  the  following  from  the 
report  of  General  Rosecrans: 

"The  enemy's  line  of  infantry  now  moved  forward  on  the  battery,  coming 
up  from  the  woods  on  our  right  on  the  Fifth  Iowa,  while  a  brigade  showed  it 
self  on  our  left  and  attempted  to  cross  the  road  toward  Colonel  Puiczel.  The 


—  94  — 

battle  became  furious.  Our  battery  poured  a  deadly  fire  upon  the  enemy's  col 
umn  advancing  up  the  road,  while  musketry  concentrated  upon  it  soon  killed  or 
wounded  most  of  the  horses.  When  within  one  hundred  yards  they  received  a 
volley  from  our  entire  line.  The  enemy  penetrated  the  battery,  were  repulsed; 
again  returned,  were  again  repulsed,  and  finally  bore  down  upon  it  with  a  col 
umn  of  three  regiments,  this  time  carrying  the  battery. 

"Many  of  the  cannoneers  were  'knocked  out'  with  ramrods  and  handspikes 
in  the  hands  of  the  batterymen.  Sands'  Eleventh  Ohio  Battery,  under  Lieuten 
ant  Sears,  was  served  with  unequaled  bravery  under  circumstances  of  danger 
and  exposure  such  as  rarely,  perhaps  never,  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  a  single 
battery  during  the  war." 


SPLENDID  HEROISM 

OF  A  PRIVATE 


WM.   G.  SURLES, 

Private,  Co.  G,  2d  Ohio  Infantry. 
Born  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  Feb.  24,  1845. 


IT  SEEMS  strange  and  paradoxical  even  that  war 
with  the  horrors  of  the  battlefield  should  serve 
to  bring  out  the  highest  virtues  and  noblest  im 
pulses  of  mankind.  The  same  cannon  ball  that 
carries  death  and  injury,  that  destroys  many  a  hope 
ful  life,  arouses  at  the  same  time  along  its  swift 
and  fatal  course  an  increased  feeling  of  patriotism, 
awakens  bravery  and  incites  men  to  the  most  bril 
liant  deeds  of  heroism.  Amidst  the  roar  of  guns 
and  the  hail  of  bullets  sentiments  of  the  most  ten 
der  kind  are  born.  Love,  friendship,  and  sacrifice 
have  found  their  most  fervent  manifestations  on  the 

battlefield.  The  love  and  admiration  that  a  soldier,  a  mere  youth,  bore  toward 
his  commander  forms  a  highly  touching  incident  of  the  war.  The  scene  was  at 
the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky,  October  8,  1862,  the  heroes  were  Private  W.  G. 
Surles  and  Colonel  Anson  G.  McCook. 

Colonel  McCook,  commanding  the  Second  Ohio  Infantry  had  attacked  the 
rebel  infantry  under  General  Bragg.  The  Confederates  outnumbered  the  Union 
forces  almost  three  to  one,  but,  with  noteworthy  skill  and  bravery,  the  latter  in 
flicted  severe  losses  on  the  enemy,  and  retreated  in  good  order. 

"Although  General  Buell  with  a  large  force  was  within  sound  of  our  guns" 
Private  Surles  says,  "  he  did  not  come  to  our  assistance  and  we  were  forced  to 
fall  back.  During  the  retreat  Colonel  McCook's  horse  was  shot  from  under  him. 


—  95  — 

Arming  himself  with  a  musket  taken  from  a  dead  soldier,  he  fought  on  foot  and 
by  his  own  gallant  example,  cheered  the  drooping  spirits  of  his  men.  The 
ground  we  traversed  was  thickly  strewn  with  the  dead  and,  wounded  of  our  own 
army  and  presented  a  ghastly  picture. 

"  We  observed  with  horror  that  our  pursuers,  with  the  cruelty  of  barbarians, 
were  plunging  their  bayonets  into  the  prostrate  forms  of  many  of  our  comrades. 
Colonel  McCook  himself  noticed  one  of  the  ghouls,  just  about  to  extinguish  the 


HE  SPRANG  IN   FRONT  OF  HIS  COMMANDER 

life  of  one  of  our  boys  with  his  bayonet.     The   colonel   halted,  fired  his  musket 
and  dropped  the  fellow,  before  he  could  accomplish  his  dastardly  deed. 

"The  death  of  the  rebel  made  the  enemy  still  more  furious.  A  Confederate 
soldier,  a  veritable  giant  in  appearance,  presently  sprang  from  behind  a  tree 
close  by  and  took  deliberate  aim  at  the  colonel.  I  had  observed  this  fellow's 
movements  and  realized  the  great  danger  of  my  beloved  commander.  How  I 
wished  I  could  with  a  well-directed  shot,  end  this  'Johnny's'  life.  But  like  the 
colonel  himself  I  had  just  fired  my  musket  and  did  not  have  time  to  intercept 
the  shot.  My  blood  froze  in  my  veins  as  I  saw  the  rebel  raise  his  gun  and  take 


—  96  — 

aim  at  our  brave  leader.  Presently,  on  the  spur  of  the  moment  and  moved  by 
the  love  and  admiration  I  felt  toward  our  commander  I  sprang  directly  in  front 
of  Colonel  McCook,  ready  to  receive  the  bullet,  which  was  to  strike  him. 

"Happily  the  rebel  giant  was  a  little  too  slow  in  firing  or  hesitated  to  make 
sure  of  his  shot ;  anyway,  before  he  pulled  the  trigger,  he  himself  was  shot  through 
the  head  and  rolled  on  the  ground  to  die  within  a  few  seconds.  One  of  the 
crack  shots  of  our  company  had  frustrated  his  plans. 

"  All  of  this  happened,  while  shot  and  shell  were  flying  around  us  like  hail, 
and  within  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it.  I  should  not  forget  to  mention 
the  conclusion  of  the  episode,  for  it  made  me  the  happiest  man  in  our  regiment 
and  has  ever  been  one  of  the  proudest  moments  of  my  life. 

"When  Colonel  McCook  saw  his  would-be  assassin  fall,  he  took  me  in  his 
arms  and  with  tears  in  his  eyes  kissed  me  as  a  father  would  his  son. 

"  We  all "  Private  Surles  ends  his  narration  "  fairly  idolized  our  commander 
and  I'm  sure,  every  one  in  our  regiment  would  have  willingly  sacrificed  his  life 
as  I  was  willing  to  do.  I  suppose,  the  fact,  that  at  the  time  I  was  a  mere  boy, 
weighing  less  than  100  pounds  and  of  almost  girlish  appearance,  while  the  rebel 
was  such  a  big,  burly  man,  made  the  incident  a  trifle  more  prominent,  than  it, 
perhaps,  otherwise  would  have  been." 

Private  Surles  served  with  his  regiment  throughout  the  war.  At  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga  he  and  an  older  brother  were  fighting  side  by  side.  Both  were 
giving  a  good  account  of  themselves  and  paying  back  the  enemy  shot  for  shot, 
when  the  older  brother  was  struck  by  a  bullet,  fell  and  died  before  William 
could  grasp  him  in  his  arms  or  bid  him  a  last  farewell. 

In  addition  to  these  two  battles  Private  Surles  fought  with  great  distinction 
in  some  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war. 


Perryville  (or  Chaplin  Hills),  Ky.— In  the  latter  part  of  1862,  a  formidable  Confederate  force 
under  Generals  Bragg  and  Kirby  Smith  invaded  Kentucky.  This  invasion  not  only  threatened  the  perma 
nent  occupation  of  the  State,  but  also  exposed  the  States  north  of  the  Ohio  River  to  invasion.  Learning 
that  Louisville  was  to  be  General  Bragg's  objective  point,  General  Buell  left  a  sufficient  force  to  protect 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  which  he  occupied,  and  put  his  army  in  march  for  Kentucky,  reaching  Louisville  on  the 
25th  of  September,  1862,  ahead  of  Bragg's  army. 

On  the  1st  of  October  General  Buell  marched  his  army  in  three  corps  to  Bardstown,  but  the  enemy's 
infantry  had  retired  from  that  place  eight  hours  before  the  arrival  of  the  Union  forces.  After  a  sharp 
engagement  with  the  enemy's  rear  guard  of  cavalry  and  artillery,  the  pursuit  was  continued  toward  Spring 
field.  Upon  discovering  that  the  enemy  would  concentrate  for  battle  at  Perryville,  General  Buell  moved 
his  army  to  that  place  ;  the  center  (third)  corps,  under  General  Rousseau,  arriving  on  the  afternoon  of  the  7th 
when  the  battle  commenced,  and  lasted  till  nightfall.  The  engagement  which  terminated  at  night  the 
previous  day,  was  renewed  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  First,  Second  and  Third  Corps  participating. 

The  rebels  were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  2,500  killed  and  wounded  and  4,500  missing.  The  loss  sustained 
by  the  Federals  was  3,859  killed  and  wounded  and  489  missing. 


—  97  — 


"THREE  CHEERS  FOR 

THE  COLOR-BEARER!" 


"O 


JOHN   J.  NOLAN, 

Color-Sergeant,  8th  N.  H.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Ireland,  June  24, 1844. 


UR  brigade  left  Donaldsonville  on  the  26th  of 
October,  1862,  under  command  of  General  God 
frey  Weitzel,"  writes  Sergeant  J.  J.  Nolan.  "After  a 
march  of  about  four  or  five  miles  our  advance  guard 
had  a  running  fight  with  the  Confederates,  which  lasted 
all  day. 

"Next  morning  General  Weitzel,  seeing  a  number 
of  Confederates  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Bayou  La- 
fourche,  decided  to  throw  our  regiment  (the  Eighth 
New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry)  across  it  and  pick 
all  we  could  of  them.  After  crossing  the  Bayou  we  advanced  about  two  miles, 
when  we  discovered  quite  a  force  of  Confederate  cavalry  in  front  of  us. 

"  Colonel  Hawks  Fearing,  of  the  Eighth  New  Hampshire,  formed  the  regiment 
into  a  hollow  square  to  resist  the  cavalry,  which  was  in  close  pursuit.  When 
we  came  to  an  open  field  the  colonel  deployed  the  regiment  from  square  to 
line  of  battle.  The  Confederates  formed  in  line  on  a  road  which  ran  along 
the  woods  to  the  right  of  the  Bayou. 

"By  this  time  General  Weitzel  discovered  that,  during  the  night,  General 
Mouton  had  crossed  with  his  whole  brigade  from  the  left  to  the  right  of  the 
Bayou,  at  the  same  time  giving  orders  to  make  a  pontoon  of  the  boats  that  he 
had  towed  up  from  Donaldsonville,  in  order  to  get  re-enforcements  to  our  as 
sistance.  He  then  ordered  our  regiment  to  advance,  which  we  did,  and  after 
throwing  down  the  last  fence  between  the  Confederates  and  ourselves,  the 
colonel  ordered  us  to  charge  the  enemy.  After  advancing  about  half  way 
through  the  field,  the  flag  staff  was  shot  in  two  in  my  hands.  I  picked  up  the 
several  pieces  and  advanced  shouting:  'Come  on  and  chase  that  battery!' 


The  Lafourche  District,  La. —  During  the  latter  part  of  October,  1862,  an  expedition  was  or 
ganized,  which  consisted  of  a  brigade  (five  regiments  of  infantry,  two  batteries  of  artillery,  and  four 
companies  of  cavalry)  under  command  of  Brigadier-General  Godfrey  Weitzel,  and  a  fleet  of  gun-boats, 
to  move  upon  the  western  bank  of  the  Mississippi  through  Western  Louisiana,  for  the  purpose  of  dispers 
ing  the  forces  assembled  there  under  General  Mouton. 

The  expedition  arrived  at  Donaldsonville,  La.,  on  the  25th  of  October,  and  entered  it  without  op 
position.  Thence  the  expedition  proceeded  to  Bayou  Lafourche,  Thibodeaux,  Berwick  Bay,  Boutte  Sta 
tion,  Bayou  des  Allemands,  etc.,  all  of  which  places  were  entered.  Valuable  stores,  freight  cars,  guns, 
and  accoutrements,  along  with  many  prisoners  were  captured.  The  expedition  proved  a  perfect  success 
and  gave  undisputed  possession  of  the  Lafourche  District  to  the  Union  Troops. 


—  98  — 


"FLAUNTED    THE   STARS   AND   STRIPES' 


"Our  hard 
fight  was 
rewarded 
with     suc 
cess.      We 
took  about 
200     pris 
oners,    one 
piece  of  ar 
tillery,      and 
routed      the 
whole  Confederate 
brigade. 

"After  the  battle 

the  colonel  formed  line,  took  the  colors  out  of  my  hands,  and  called  for  three 
cheers  for  the  color-bearer,  and  General  Weitzel  rode  up  and  thanked  me  in 
the  presence  of  the  regiment." 

Colonel  0.  W.  Lull  under  date  of  November  16,  1862,  furnishes  a  few  more 
details  of  the  incident,  which  Sergeant  Nolan,  who  relates  the  above  story,  omits. 
The  colonel  writes :  "  Young  Nolan  was  as  fine  and  brave  an  Irish  lad  as  ever 
shouldered  a  gun  in  the  Union  Army.  At  the  fight  at  Georgia  Landing  he  was 
the  color-bearer  and  moved  up  and  looked  straight  into  the  muzzles  of  the  enemy's 
artillery,  as  steady  and  cool  as  Marshall  Ney  ever  faced  a  battery.  When  his 
colors,  struck  by  a  cannon  shot,  fell  forward  on  the  ground,  our  young  friend 
threw  himself  prostrate  on  his  face  and  gathered  the  colors  in  his  outstretched 
arms.  Two  or  three  of  his  own  company  also  sprang  for  the  flag,  but  young 
Nolan  held  on  to  his  treasure,  and  with  a  'No  you  don't'  arose,  moved  on  and 
flaunted  the  Stars  and  Stripes  where  grape  and  canister  fell  as  thick  as  hail 
stones  in  a  northern  storm." 


—  99  — 


LED  A  GALLANT  CHARGE 


T 


JOHN   C.  BLACK, 

Lieut-Colonel,  37th  Illinois  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Brevet  Brig-Gen.,  U.S.V. 

Born  at  Lexington,  Miss.,  Jan.  27, 1839. 


E    Thirty-seventh    Illinois    Infantry, 

commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
John  C.  Black,  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Prairie  Grove,  Ark.,  on  the  7th  of  De 
cember,  1862.  Its  position  was  on  the 
extreme  right,  supporting  Captain  Mur 
phy's  Battery  (F.  First  Missouri  Light 
Artillery).  After  some  manoeuvring  the 
regiment  came  to  a  halt,  the  men  were 
ordered  to  lie  down  and  being  exhausted 
from  marching  sixty-six  miles  in  thirty- 
six  hours,  most  of  them  fell  asleep  almost 
immediately.  Firing,  however,  by  the 
artillery  on  both  sides,  commenced  with 
in  five  minutes  after  the  halt  was  made 
and  was  kept  up  for  an  hour. 

The  action  from  this  point  on  is  best  told  in  Colonel  Black's  own  words: 
''At  the  end  of  an  hour  we  were  ordered  to  advance  into  the  open  field.  A  cheer 
was  given  and  we  moved  out  a  short  distance,  and  remained  stationary  for  some 
fifteen  minutes,  when  I  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Huston,  commanding  the  Second 
Division,  to  advance  the  regiment  down  the  slope  to  the  support  of  the  batteries 
of  the  Third  Division.  Scarcely  had  this  position  been  reached,  before  Colonel 
Huston  again  ordered  our  advance  against  the  hill,  on  which  the  center  of  the 
enemy  was  posted  in  unknown  strength,  and  from  which  two  regiments  had 
first  been  driven  with  heavy  loss.  Throwing  out  Company  A  on  the  right  and 
Company  I  on  the  right  and  left,  as  skirmishers,  I  ordered  a  charge  up  the  hill. 
It  was  executed  in  fine  style,  the  men  advancing  steadily  and  swiftly  up  to  the 
edge  The  firing  of  the  skirmishers  in  front  announced  the  enemy  close  at 
hand.  Clearing  the  edge,  we  stood  face  to  face  with  them,  their  numbers  over 
whelming,  one  column  moving  by  left-oblique  upon  our  left  and  the  right  of 
the  Twenty-sixth  Indiana,  another  moving  directly  upon  our  right.  They  moved 
in  column  en  masse,  with  guns  at  a  ready.  The  firing  began  first  upon  the  left 
and  in  a  few  minutes  was  general  along  the  line.  But,  pressed  by  overwhelm 
ing  numbers,  the  right  of  the  Twenty-sixth  gave  way  after  most  gallantly  con 
testing  the  ground.  My  skirmishers  about  the  same  time  reported  the  enemy's 
artillery  posted  on  our  right.  Thus  overwhelmed,  the  only  hope  from  annihila 
tion  was  the  bayonet  or  retreat.  The  bayonet  could  not  be  used;  directly  in 


—  100  — 

front  of  us  was  a  rail  fence,  and  it  could  not  have  been  passed  and  we  re 
formed  before  the  enemy  would  have  been  upon  us;  so,  reluctantly,  I  ordered  a 
retreat.  Not  a  man  had  moved  from  his  post  till  that  order.  Falling  back 
some  300  yards,  they  reformed  in  the  rear  of  our  batteries. 

"In  this  charge  and  retreat  I  was  too  seriously  wounded  to  retain  the  com 
mand,  and  so,  turning  it  over  to  Major  H.  N.  Frisbie,  I  left  the  field,  not  how 
ever,  until  the  regiment  was  reformed  and  had  again  commenced  its  fire." 

In  his  report  of  the  action  Colonel  Daniel  Huston.  Jr.,  who  commanded  the 
Second  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Frontier,  refers  to  Colonel  Black's  gallant 
regiment  as  follows: 

"  Finding  on  my  arrival  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  that  the  other  regiments 
had  fallen  back  so  far  and  were  so  badly  cut  up,  that  it  was  necessary  to  give 
them  time  to  reform,  I  brought  up  the  Twenty-sixth  Indiana  and  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Illinois  at  double-quick  and  ordered  them  to  move  up  the  hill  to  as 
sault  the  position  of  the  enemy,  strongly  posted  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge. 
Throwing  out  a  company  of  skirmishers  from  each  to  cover  their  front,  both 
regiments  moved  steadily  and  compactly  forward  till  they  reached  a  point  75 
to  100  yards  beyond  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  when  the  skirmishers  commenced 
firing  upon  the  enemy,  of  whom  comparatively  few  could  be  seen.  Suddenly 
the  infantry  of  the  enemy,  which  had  been  lying  down,  concealed  by  the  thick 
brush  and  leaves,  rose  up  in  one  overwhelming  number  and  poured  in  a  deadly, 
galling  fire,  which  was  withstood  and  returned  by  our  troops  with  the  coolness 
and  firmness  of  veteran  soldiers.  The  preponderance  of  numbers  on  the  part 
of  the  enemy  was  so  great  that  the  infantry  was  eventually  forced  to  retire  in 
some  little  confusion;  but  they  soon  reformed  in  good  order,  taking  a  position 
about  250  yards  from  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  which  they  maintained  until  the 
close  of  the  action.  The  two  regiments  had  lost  nearly  one-third  of  their 
number  in  killed  and  wounded  in  the  desperate  assault." 


—  103  — 


THE    SINKING    CREEK   VALLEY    RAID 


WILLIAM   H.  POWELL, 

Major,  2d  YV.  Va.  Cavalry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet  Maj-Gen..U.S.V. 
Born  in  South  Wales,  ti.  B.,  May  10,  1825. 


LUR  regiment,  the  Second  West  Virginia  Cav 
alry."  relates  Major  William  H.  Powell, 
"having  as  we  supposed  completed  its  campaign 
of  1862,  was  enjoying  winter  quarters  at  Camp 
Piatt,  in  November  1862,  on  the  bank  of  the 
Kanawha  River,  about  twelve  miles  above  Charles 
ton,  S.  C..  when,  to  the  surprise  and  gratification 
of  the  boys,  they  were  ordered  into  the  saddle 
and  en  route  for  Cold  Knob  Mountain,  at  which 
point  the  command  was  to  be  re-enforced  by  the 
Eleventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Colonel  P.  H. 
Lane  commanding.  From  this  point  we  moved 
against  the  Fourteenth  Virginia  Cavalry,  then  in 
winter  quarters,  recruiting,  occupying  two  separate 
camps,  one  in  the  Sinking  Creek  Valley,  the  other 

some    two   miles  west   near   Williamsburg,    both    in    Greenbriar    County,   twelve 
miles  west  of  Lewisburg. 

"  Leaving  the  Kanawha  River  Valley  route  at  Connelton.  to  avoid  suspicion 
as  to  the  objective  point  of  operation,  the  column  proceeded  via  the  old  road  to 
Lewisburg,  passing  through  Summerville,  where  the  command  arrived  the  same 
evening,  having  traveled  sixty  miles  that  day  over  rough  mountain  roads. 

"Next  morning  we  pushed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible  through  a  blinding 
snowstorm,  the  snow  being  a  foot  deep  on  the  ground.  About  noon,  while  ac 
companying  the  advance  guard,  composed  of  a  lieutenant  and  eight  men,  I  en 
countered  a  squad  of  rebel  scouts  consisting  also  of  a  lieutenant  and  eight  men. 
We  took  them  evidently  by  surprise,  and,  at  the  first  sight  of  us.  disregarding 
my  polite  invitation  to  halt,  they  ran  into  a  log  cabin  but  a  short  distance  away 
from  the  roadside.  Observing  that  the  lieutenant  had  made  his  escape  into  the 
woods  beyond  the  cabin,  I  pushed  on  after  him,  ordering  my  lieutenant  and 
guard  to  surround  the  cabin.  I  captured  him  about  a  mile  away.  I  have  often 
wondered  since,  why  the  fellow  did  not  take  a  position  behind  a  tree,  and,  with 
good  aim,  stop  my  advance  upon  him.  especially  when  he  became  convinced 
that  I  was  pursuing  him  with  a  determined  purpose  to  run  him  down.  On  re 
turning  to  the  cabin  I  learned  that  Lieutenant  Davidson  had  captured  the  entire 
rebel  squad,  which  result  proved  a  very  important  factor  in  the  final  mission  of 
the  raid,  as  no  one  escaped  to  report  the  movement  of  the  command. 

"Resuming  the  march  we  pressed  forward  through  snow  nearly  two  feet  deep, 
arriving  at  noon  of  the  26th  on  the  summit  of  Cold  Knob  Mountain,  where 
we  found  Colonel  Lane  awaiting  us. 


—  104  — 

"  After  a  conference  .between  Colonels  Paxton  and  Lane,  the  latter  decided 
that  the  condition  of  his  regiment,  caused  by  exposure  to  the  terrible  storm  and 
deep  snow  of  the  past  twenty-four  hours,  rendered  the  continuance  of  the  march 
utterly  impracticable,  and  compelled  him,  in  justice  to  his  men  and  officers,  to 
return  to  their  winter  quarters  at  Summerville. 

"Influenced  by  the  action  of  Colonel  Lane,  Colonel  Paxton  submitted  to  the 
officers  of  the  regiment  the  question  of  returning  to  camp  with  Colonel  Lane 
and  the  Eleventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  This  proposition  met  with  my  de 
cided  and  unqualified  opposition.  When  General  Crook  delivered  the  order  to 
make  the  raid  upon  the  enemy  in  the  Sinking  Creek  Valley, —  knowing  Paxton's 
failings,  and  being  disposed  to  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  them  and  allow 
him  to  accompany  the  expedition  rather  than  detain  him  in  camp, —  he  had  con 
fidentially  charged  me  not  to  return  to  camp  without  good  results.  Influenced 
by  these  instructions  and  the  fact  that  the  men  in  the  ranks  and  many  of  the 
company  commanders  were  in  full  accord  with  my  views  favoring  a  forward 
movement,  I  said  to  the  colonel  that  I  would  call  for  volunteers  to  accompany 
me  in  the  advance  movement  upon  the  enemy's  camp.  This  announcement, 
fully  understood  by  Colonel  Paxton,  induced  him  to  change  his  mind.  He  gave 
me  orders,  as  the  major  of  the  regiment,  to  make  a  detail  and  move  down  the 
mountains  as  the  advance  guard. 

"  I  ordered  Lieutenant  Jeremiah  Davidson  and  twenty  men  of  Company  Gr,  to 
accompany  me,  and  immediately  moved  out  in  advance  of  the  regiment.  Pro 
ceeding  about  a  mile,  I  met  four  rebel  scouts  at  a  sharp  turn  of  the  road.  I 
instantly  commanded  a  halt,  and  seeing  that  they  preferred  attempting  their 
escape  to  a  surrender,  fired  and  charged  upon  them,  wounding  one  and  capturing 
another.  The  remaining  two  made  good  their  escape. 

"  From  our  prisoners  I  hastily  obtained  valuable  information  as  to  the  strength, 
location,  and  relative  position  of  the  two  camps.  The  two  scouts  who  had  es 
caped,  having  seen  but  a  part  of  our  advance  guard,  concluded,  as  we  afterwards 
learned,  that  as  we  did  not  press  them  closely  down  the  mountain,  we  were 
nothing  more  or  less  than  a  squad  of  Union  Home  Guards  living  in  the  neigh 
borhood. 

"On  nearing  the  foot  of  the  mountain  we  discovered  the  two  escaped  scouts 
in  the  distance  in  the  valley,  moving  leisurely  towards  their  camp,  the  smoke 
of  which  was  perceptible  to  me.  I  halted  for  a  moment  until  they  had  passed 
out  of  my  view  around  a  point  in  the  turn  of  the  valley.  Seeing  that  the  coast 
was  clear,  and  conscious  that  we  had  no  time  to  waste,  I  pushed  forward  rapidly 
to  the  point  where  the  scouts  had  disappeared,  reaching  it  with  my  little  band 
unobserved  by  the  enemy. 

"I  could  plainly  see  that  they  were  in  a  state  of  'innocuous  desuetude,'  un- 
apprised  of  our  proximity,  and  therefore  unprepared  to  welcome  us.  Apprecia 
ting  the  golden  opportunity,  I  decided  promptly  to  charge  the  camp.  Announcing 


—  106  — 

the  situation  and  my  purpose  to  my  heroic  little  command  of  Lieutenant 
Davidson  and  his  twenty  men,  they  answered : 

"'We  will  follow  where  you  lead!' 

"Having  not  a  moment  to  lose,  I  wheeled  my  command  into  line,  facing  the 
camp,  and  charged  my  handful  of  men  on  a  full  run  of  half  a  mile  down  the 
Sinking  Creek  Valley,  into  the  center  of  the  enemy's  camp,  500  strong.  We 
were  each  armed  with  a  saber  and  a  brace  of  Colt's  54  caliber  navy  revolvers, 
giving  us  220  shots,  which  we  held  in  reserve  to  avoid  alarming  the  other  camp, 
some  two  miles  away,  and  to  be  used  only  in  case  of  absolute  necessity. 

"  It  was  soon  made  evident  that  the  camp  was  surprised,  and  that  the 
enemy's  firearms  were  unloaded.  During  the  brief  and  very  exciting  hand- 
to-hand  encounter  which  ensued,  some  few  of  their  number,  in  their  confusion, 
ran  up  to  us  grasping  us  by  the  legs,  and  claiming  us  as  their  prisoners.  To 
such  daring  and  undignified  assaults  and  claims  we  responded  politely  by  tap 
ping  them  on  the  tops  of  their  heads  with  our  revolvers,  which  we  held  in  our 
hands,  felling  several  of  the  rudest  of  them  to  the  ground  and  causing  them  to 
loosen  their  grasp.  After  thus  dealing  with  them  for  but  a  moment,  I  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  rebels'  camp,  offering  the  protection  of  their  lives.  These 
terms  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  A.  Gibson  promptly  accepted,  and  surrendered 
the  command  to  me  without  reservation. 

•'  Thus  I  captured  the  camp  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  Virginia  Cavalry,  500 
strong,  in  the  Sinking  Creek  Valley,  Va.,  November  26,  1862,  without  the  loss 
of  a  life  or  the  firing  of  a  gun  or  revolver.  Colonel  Paxton  did  not  reach  the 
camp  until  after  the  surrender,  at  which  time  the  other  portion  of  the  rebel 
regiment,  in  camp  at  William sburg.  came  over  to  a  point  within  respectful  dis 
tance  to  look  at  us.  The  achievement  of  the  Sinking  Creek  Valley  raid  by  a 
mere  handful  of  men,  at  noonday,  far  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country, 
requiring  a  continuous  forced  march  in  the  saddle  of  thirty-six  hours,  from  the 
Union  lines  to  the  enemy's  camp,  under  the  most  unfavorable  conditions  of 
weather  and  roads,  is  an  example  of  what  a  few  brave,  loyal,  and  determined 
men  can  accomplish." 


—  107- 


VOLUNTEER  INFANTRYMEN    AT   THE    GUN 


r  EXAMPLE  of  dashing- 
bravery  and  courage, 
which  General  Daniel  E. 
Sickles  designates  "a  heroic 
act,"  was  furnished  by  Cor 
poral  John  G.  Palmer  and 
Private  Wallace  A.  Beckwith 
of  Company  F,  Twenty-first 
Connecticut  Infantry.  The 
story  is  interestingly  told 
by  Corporal  Palmer : 

'k  At  the  time  of  Burn- 
side's  great  battle  of  Fred 
ericksburg,  I  was  a  boy  sev 
enteen  years  of  age  and  a 
member  of  Company  F, 
Twenty-first  Connecticut 

Infantry.  We  were  held  in  reserve  in  the  streets  of  the  city  until  the  last 
afternoon  of  the  desperate  fight.  At  4:30  P.M.  w^e  received  a  hurry  order  to  go 
to  the  support  of  the  Second  Division.  Away  we  went,  glad  to  take  an  active 
part,  as  we  had  been  under  fire  more  or  less  for  two  or  three  days.  As  soon  as 
\ve  cleared  the  streets  of  the  city,  we  wTere  exposed  to  a  perfect  shower  of  bul 
lets  and  exploding  shells  from  a  general  attack  which  was  now  taking  place  all 
along  the  front.  Amidst  this  terrible  fire  we  formed  and  moved  rapidly  towards 
the  line  of  battle,  our  company  marching  for  two  or  three  blocks  through  the 


WALLACE    A.  BECKWITH, 

Private,  Co.  F,  21st  Conn.  Infantry, 
Born  at  New  London,  Conn. 


JOHN   G.   PALMER, 
Corp.  Co.  F,  21st  Conn.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Montville,  Conn.,  Oct.  14, 1845. 


Fredericksburg1.  —  In  December,  1862,  General  Burnside,  superseding  McClellan  as  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Union  Army,  directed  an  attack  against  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  on  the  southern  bank  of  the 
Kappahannock.  The  town  is  situated  on  the  steep  slopes  of  one  of  the  three  wooded  terraces  in  the  nar 
row  valley.  The  battle  took  place  on  the  second  terrace,  while  on  the  third  the  enemy  under  Lee 
had  gathered  a  force  of  90,000  men. 

Burnside,  stationed  at  Falmouth  was  occupied  from  December  11  to  13  in  building  bridges  and 
throwing  across  the  river  the  two  divisions  of  Franklin  and  Sumner.  On  the  13th,  assaults  were  made 
by  these  divisions,  which  were  repulsed  with  great  loss.  Hooker,  ordered  across,  had  the  same  experi 
ence.  The  Union  troops  were  gathered  at  Fredericksburg  and  withdrawn  across  the  river. 

Burnside's  losses  amounted  to  13,000  men,  while  the  Confederate  loss  was  not  more  than  a  third 
of  that  number. 


—  108  — 


back  yards  of  houses  and  dwellings.  We  had  a  most  lively  time  pulling  up  and 
scaling  numerous  fences  to  keep  up  with  that  part  of  the  line  which  was  meet 
ing  with  less  obstructions.  We  advanced  to  the  scene  of  operations  until  the  right 
of  the  regiment  reached  the  railroad  at  the  depot,  the  line  extending  to  the  left 


"THE  BATTLE  GREW   MORE   FIERCE" 

through  some  brickkilns.  A  light  battery  of  four  pieces,  situated  on  a  low  ridge 
in  front  of  the  left  of  the  regiment  was  shelling  the  enemy,  whose  fronts  were 
near,  as  fast  as  they  could  fire  their  guns. 

"  We  were  ordered  to  lie  down,  which  we  did  in  short  order,  and  settled  our 
selves  into  the  soft  clay  of  the  brickyard,  which  offered  some  degree  of  shelter 
from  the  iron  and  lead  which  were  flying  so  furiously  around  and  dangerously 
near  our  heads. 

"After  a  time  the  fire  slackened.  Our  assault  had  met  with  a  bloody  repulse. 
Manoeuvres  were  immediately  ordered  with  a  view  of  making  one  more  grand 
final  charge  and  ending  the  battle. 

"As  the  attack  ceased  and  the  firing  had  become  desultory  I  raised  up  on 
my  elbows ;  the  colors  of  the  regiment  brushed  my  face.  Pushing  the  flag  aside 


—109— 

I  glanced  up  and  down  the  line.  Our  regiment  appeared  like  two  rows  of  dead 
men,  every  one  except  the  colonel,  with  his  head  face  down  in  the  mud  as  low 
as  possible. 

"Presently  the  captain  of  a  battery  came  running  towards  our  regiment  and 
hurriedly  saluting  the  colonel,  said:  'For  God's  sake,  colonel,  give  me  six  men, 
quick,  who  know  something  about  firing  a  gun.  I  haven't  men  enough  left  to 
work  my  battery  in  the  coming  charge.' 

''Our  colonel  faced  the  colors  and  repeated  the  call.  Though  I  was  the 
youngest  member  of  the  company  I  had  heard  and  seen  enough  for  several  days, 
and  especially  during  the  previous  hour,  to  know  the  seriousness  of  the  situation, 
to  realize  the  probable  consequences  of  the  act,  and  to  compare  the  exposure  on 
the  knoll  with  the  safety  of  the  shelter  of  the  brickkilns. 

''It  took  but  a  few  moments  for  me  to  determine  what  to  do.  By  the  time 
the  colonel  had  pronounced  the  word  '  men,'  I  stepped  from  the  ranks,  closely 
followed  by  Comrade  Beckwith  and  four  others.  We  had  but  a  few  moments  to 
look  over  the  field  and  receive  instructions  from  the  sergeant,  when  the  captain, 
reading  the  signals  from  the  church  belfry,  gave  the  order  to  stand  by  the  guns 
ready  for  action. 

"  The  troops  that  were  selected  to  make  the  final  attack  moved  forward  to 
the  charge. 

"Suddenly  the  enemy  opened  with  every  gun  and  musket  that  could  be 
brought  to  bear.  As  we  occupied  the  only  rise  of  ground  on  our  side  and  were 
the  only  battery  in  action  on  our  left,  we  found  that  several  of  the  enemy's 
batteries  were  paying  us  particular  attention  and  that  we  had  to  take  their  con 
centrated  fire.  The  battle  grew  more  fierce. 

"  Twilight  came  on  ;  twilight  passed  to  darkness.  It  was  a  grand  and  awe- 
inspiring  spectacle  —  one  mighty  and  thundering  roar. 

"Around  us  rained  a  perfect  shower  of  bullets,  which  completely  riddled  a 
board  fence  in  front  of  the  knoll.  They  struck  the  guns  and  splintered  the 
spokes  of  the  wheels.  Shells  exploded  constantly  over  and  around  us  and 
knocked  down  several  of  my  comrades.  Many  officers  and  men  were  killed,  and 
a  great  number,  including  several  in  my  own  regiment,  were  wounded  in  our 
immediate  rear.  We  kept  our  little  battery  barking.  Our  commander  said  that 
our  shells  were  bursting  squarely  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  but  our  army  could 
not  accomplish  the  impossible.  The  heights  were  too  strong  with  earthworks, 
cannon,  and  men,  and  the  assault  ended  the  battle  for  the  night. 

"We  lived  through  the  entire  attack  uninjured.  Sunday  morning  the  captain 
of  the  battery  thanked  us  heartily  for  our  services  and  told  us  to  return  to  our 
regiment.  Our  colonel  said,  as  he  received  us :  'I  am  proud  of  my  men.' ' 


110— 


"IT   SEEMED   I    GRASPED 

FOR    DEATH" 


JOHN    G.  B.  ADAMS, 

2d  Lieutenant,  Co.  I,  19th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Groveland,  Mass.,  Oct.  6,  1841. 


IWON  my  medal  at  the  charge  upon  Marye's 
Heights,"  writes  Lieutenant  John  G.  B. 
Adams.  ''  At  that  time  I  was  second  lieuten 
ant  of  Company  I,  Nineteenth  Massachusetts 
Infantry.  At  Falmouth,  Va.,  where  we  were  in 
camp,  the  Third  Brigade.  Second  Division,  Sec 
ond  Corps,  received  orders  on  the  llth  of  De 
cember,  to  march  to  the  banks  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock.  where  we  found  an  engineer  company 
endeavoring  to  lay  a  pontoon  bridge  across  the 
river.  Our  enemy,  Barksdale's  Mississippi  Bri 
gade,  in  the  rifle-pits  and  houses  of  Fredericks- 
burg  on  the  opposite  shore,  had  prevented  our 
men  from  completing  their  work.  After  sev 
eral  fruitless  attempts  to  continue,  the  bridge  was  abandoned,  and  volunteers 
were  called  for  to  cross  in  boats.  My  regiment  and  the  Seventh  Michigan  re 
sponded  to  the  call  and  undertook  the  task.  History  tells  of  the  hard  fight 
we  had,  trying  to  take  the  position  of  the  rebels.  Many  a  brave  life  was  lost 
while  crossing  the  river,  and  during  the  subsequent  severe  fight  clearing  the  city. 
"But  these  were  only  part  of  the  hardships  which  we  were  to  undergo  at 
this  place.  On  the  13th  we  were  ordered  up  with  the  rest  of  the  army  to  charge 
Marye's  Heights,  our  regiment  being  on  the  extreme  right.  Shots  from  the  bat 
teries  ploughed  through  our  ranks  as  we  pressed  forward  through  the  streets 
towards  the  enemy.  Under  a  steep  bank,  not  far  from  the  rebel  works,  we  took 
position  until  the  order  was  given  to  move  forward.  The  terrible  havoc  which 
took  place  after  we  had  advanced  over  the  embankment  will  surely  stay  in  the 
mind  of  every  participant  to  his  last  day.  As  fast  as  the  colors  came  in  sight, 
the  color-bearer  fell,  and,  in  less  than  no  time,  eight  were  killed  or  wounded. 
The  color-sergeant  fell  and  Lieutenant  Edgar  W.  Newcomb  grasped  the  national 
flag.  A  moment  later  he,  too,  shared  the  fate  of  the  sergeant.  As  he  went 
down,  I  snatched  the  colors.  It  seemed  as  if  I  grasped  for  death,  expecting 
every  moment  to  be  my  last. 

"  Almost  at  the  same  instant  the  bearer  of  the  state  colors  at  my  side  was  shot 
and,  directed  by  a  sudden  instinct.  I  also  took  possession  of  our  state  emblem. 
Realizing  that  it  would  be  sure  death,  and  probably  the  loss  of  both  colors,  if  we 
remained  where  I  was,  I  rushed  across  the  field  to  a  fence  at  the  left,  my  men 


—  Ill  — 

following.  Here  the  regiment  was  reformed,  we  changed  front,  and,  by  lying 
close  to  the  ground,  had  a  good  opportunity  to  respond  effectively  to  the  fire  of 
the  rebel  sharpshooters. 

'•  The  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  lost  more  than  half  of  the  men  engaged  and 
was  finally  obliged  to  retreat  across  the  river  and  return  to  camp  at  Falmouth." 


IT  SEEMED  I  GRASPED  FOR  DEATH 


BOTH    ARMS   SHOT  OFF 


THE  Twenty-first  Massachusetts  Infantry  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Freder- 
icksburg  on  the  upper  pontoon  bridge  December  12,  and  the  next  morning  ad 
vanced  on  the  enemy's  works.     The  Second  Brigade  moved  forward  most  gallantly 
in  double  line  of  battle,  across  a  plain  swept  by  a  destructive  fire  of  the  enemy. 
Colonel  W.  S.  Clark,  of  the  Twenty-first  Massachusetts,  says  in  his  report : 

"  When  about  sixty  rods  from  the  city,  Color-Sergeant  Collins  of  Company  A, 
was  shot,  and   fell   to   the   ground.      Sergeant   Thomas   Plunkett  of   Company  E, 


—  112  — 

seized  the  colors  and  carried  them  proudly  forward  to  the  farthest  point  reached 
by  our  troops  during  the  battle.  When  the  regiment  had  commenced  the  de 
livery  of  its  fire,  about  forty  rods  from  the  position  of  the  rebel  infantry,  a  shell 
was  thrown  with  fatal  accuracy  at  the  flag. 

"Both  arms  of  the  brave  Plunkett  were  shot  off  and  literally  carried  away, 
and  once  more  the  colors,  wet  with  the  bearer's  blood,  were  brought  to  the 
ground.  Color-Corporal  Olney  of  Company  H,  immediately  raised  the  flag  and 
defiantly  bore  it  through  the  remainder  of  the  day.  Color-Corporal  Barr  of 
Company  C,  who  carried  the  state  colors,  was  shot,  and  his  post  of  honor  and 
danger  quickly  taken  by  Color-Corporal  Wheeler  of  Company  I.  Color-Corporal 
Miller  was  also  wounded." 

Plunkett  survived  his  injuries  and  was  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


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COLONEL   COLLIS  "PITCHED  IN' 
WITH  HIS  ZOUAVES 


IN  THE  ofticial  report,  upon  which  the  Medal 
of  Honor  was  awarded  to  Colonel  Charles 
H.  F.  Collis,  it  is  stated  that  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  General  John  C.  Robinson,  who 
commanded  a  brigade,  was  thrown  off  his  horse, 
which  was  killed  by  a  solid  shot.  Lying  on 
the  ground  the  general  called  out  to  Colonel 
Collis :  "  Pitch  in,  pitch  in,  colonel ! " 

Here  is  the  story  of  how  Colonel  Collis  exe 
cuted  the  order  and  "  pitched  in."  He  was  com 
manding  the  One  hundred  and  fourteenth  Penn 
sylvania  Volunteers,  called  the  Collis  Zouaves, 
and  was  attached  to  the  First  Brigade,  First 
Division,  Third  Corps,  which  was  commanded  by  General  John  C.  Robinson. 

The  brigade  was  brought  into  action  at  the  critical  moment  when  the  Penn 
sylvania  reserves,  commanded  by  General  George  G.  Meade,  had  been  repulsed 
and  were  being  driven  back  towards  the  Rappahannock  River.  The  enemy's  in 
fantry  were  pursuing  the  reserves,  while  the  rebel  batteries  on  the  ridge  were 
keeping  up  a  terrific  fire  of  solid  shot  and  shell.  Randolph's  and  Livingston's 
Batteries  on  the  Union  side  were  doing  their  utmost  to  protect  the  retreating 
Federal  soldiers,  but  the  enemy  had  reached  Randolph  and  were  about  to  take 


CHAS.  H.  F.  COLLIS, 
Colonel,  114th  Pa.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet  Maj-Gen.,U.S.V. 
Born  in  Ireland,  Feb.  4, 1838. 


—  113  — 

possession  of  his  guns,  when  Robinson's  Brigade,  led  by  the  Collis  Zouaves,  came 
up  on  the  field  at  double-quick  time,  in  column  formation.  General  Robinson's 
horse  was  disemboweled  by  a  solid  shot;  his  adjutant-general  was  severely 
wounded,  and  his  bugler  killed,  while  they  were  all  riding  at  the  head  of  the 
column.  This  caused  a  momentary  check  to  the  advance  of  the  Zouaves,  who 
were  now  engaged  in  their  first  fight,  though  some  of  the  officers,  including 
Colonel  Collis,  had  seen  previous  service.  It  was  a  moment  of  supreme  impor 
tance  to  the  Union  Army.  If  the  enemy  had  secured  Randolph's  and  Living 
ston's  Batteries,  and  turned  them  upon  the  Union  ranks,  the  left  flank  of  the 


COLONEL  COLLIS  AT  FREDERICKSBURG 


Army  of  the  Potomac  would  have  been  doubled  up,  and  serious  disaster  would 
have  been  imminent.  Colonel  Collis,  though  a  young  man,  only  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  quickly  took  in  the  situation,  and  seizing  the  colors  of  his  regiment 
from  the  color-sergeant,  galloped  with  them  to  the  front,  deploying  his  regiment 
into  line  of  battle  at  the  same  time,  and  attacking  the  advancing  foe  with  the 
bayonet.  The  charge  of  the  Zouaves  was  not  only  brilliant,  but  picturesque,  as 
they  were  uniformed  in  scarlet  and  blue,  their  heads  being  decorated  with  the 
red  fez  and  white  turban  of  the  French  Zouaves  d'Afrique. 


—  114  — 

They  came  into  collision  with  the  enemy  in  the  midst  of  the  guns  of  Ran 
dolph's  Battery,  but  their  advance  was  so  impetuous  as  to  be  irresistible  and  the 
enemy  fell  back  in  great  confusion,  leaving  one  entire  regiment  on  the  field, 
which  was  captured  by  the  Zouaves.  Robinson's  Brigade  held  the  position  thus 
secured  until  the  entire  army  retired  two  days  later. 


AT  ANTIETAM  AND 

FREDERICKSBURG 


F 


OR    distinguished  bravery,  coolness  in 
action,  soldierly  conduct  and  conspicu- 


JOHN   JOHNSON, 
Private  Co.  D,  2d  Wis.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Norway,  March  25, 1S42. 


ous  gallantry  at  the  battles  of  Antietam  and 
Fredericksburg."      This   is    the   inscription    on 
Private  John  Johnson's  medal.     The  gallant  sol 
dier's  narration  follows : 

"I  enlisted  in  the  Second  Wisconsin  Infantry, 
but  was  on  detached  service  in  Captain  Gibbon's 
Light  Battery,  B,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery. 

"At  the  battle  of  Antietam  the  enemy  opened 
fire  at  break  of  day,  from  a  battery  on  a  knoll, 
about  halfway  between  the  turnpike  and  the  east 
wood.  Shot  and  shell  whistled  over  us  but  we 
returned  the  fire  and  soon  silenced  the  enemy's 
guns.  Lieutenant  Stewart,  who  commanded  the  right  section  of  Battery  B  was 
ordered  to  take  his  section,  to  which  I  belonged,  and  proceed  with  Gibbon's 
Brigade.  He  formed  in  front  of  Dr.  Miller's,  barnyard  on  the  right,  west  side  of 
the  pike  looking  south  on  a  little  ridge,  close  to  some  buildings  and  within 
thirty  or  forty  yards  of  a  fence  separating  the  cornfield  from  the  pasture  ground. 
The  cornfield  was  full  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers  and  sharpshooters.  It  was 
here  that  '  Stonewall '  Jackson's  troops  made  three  desperate  charges  to  capture 
the  battery  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  the  last  time  came  within  a  few 
rods  of  our  guns  before  we  could  stop  them.  The  infantry  of  General  Gibbon 
and  General  Patrick's  Brigade  rallied  to  its  support  with  equal  resolution,  the 
result  being  as  fierce  and  murderous  a  combat  as  ever  surged  about  a  six-gun 
battery.  Battery  B  was  the  very  vortex  of  the  fight.  General  John  Gibbon 
came  up  to  one  of  the  guns,  straddled  the  trail,  sighted  the  gun,  and  exclaimed: 
'Give  them  hell,  boys!' 


—  115- 

'•  Stewart's  section  in  this  position  had  three  men  killed  and  eleven  wounded 
in  a  few  moments.  Among  the  wounded  was  Sergeant  Joe  Herzog,  who  with 
myself  had  hold  of  the  handspike  of  the  gun's  trail  and  was  trying  to  change 
the  position  of  the  gun,  when  he  was  shot  through  the  lower  part  of  the  ab 
domen.  Knowing  that  the  wound  was  fatal  and  being  in  great  agony,  poor  Joe 
deliberately  drew  his  revolver  and  shot  himself  through  the  right  temple.  I 
was  a  cannoneer  during  the  whole  time  the  section  and  battery  were  engaged. 
We  were  firing  double  canister.  During  this  time  I  filled  different  positions  at 
the  piece,  including  gunner.  The  cannoneers  had  been  killed  and  wounded  so 
rapidly  that  those  remaining  had  to  fill  their  places  as  best  they  could.  By  this 
time  the  other  four  guns  of  the  battery  had  come  up  and  commenced  firing. 
This  terrific  contest  resulted  in  the  battery  driving  the  enemy's  infantry  out 
of  their  cover.  Our  casualties  in  this  action  were  forty  killed  and  wounded. 
At  my  piece  there  were  but  t\vo  cannoneers  left,  myself  and  one  other.  As 
near  as  I  can  remember,  we  fired  from  ten  to  fifteen  rounds  of  canister, 
brought  to  us  by  teamsters  of  the  extra  caissons,  after  the  other  cannoneers  had 
been  killed  or  wounded.  The  battery  limbered  up  and  hauled  off  without  the 
loss  of  a  single  gun  or  caisson.  Some  of  the  guns  had  only  two  horses  left,  and 
the  battery  went  into  action  again  on  another  part  of  the  field  during  the  day. 

"Again,  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  I  was  a  cannoneer  in  the  right  section 
(Stewart's),  and  filled  the  different  positions  at  the  gun,  of  cannoneers  who  had 
been  killed  or  wounded.  While  carrying  twro  case  shots  to  the  gun,  having  cut 
the  fuse  of  one  and  made  it  ready  to  be  inserted,  I  was  wounded  by  a  piece  of 
shell,  which  carried  away  my  right  arm  at  the  shoulder,  with  a  portion  of  the 
clavicle  and  scapula.  So  much  of  the  shoulder  was  carried  away  that  the  cav 
ity  of  the  body  was  exposed,  and  the  tissue  of  the  lungs  made  plainly  visible. 
It  has  been  said  by  comrades  who  were  at  that  gun  as  cannoneers  that  I  in 
serted  the  shell  into  the  gun  after  my  arm  was  torn  off,  before  I  fell.  This, 
however.  I  do  not  remember. 

'•  This  same  shell  played  havoc  in  the  section,  killing  two  men  outright. 
Bartly  Fagen  of  the  Second  Wisconsin,  and  Patrick  Hogan  of  the  regulars,  and 
wounding  several.  It  has  been  said  by  survivors  of  this  engagement  that  the 
same  shell  also  tore  William  Hogarty's  left  arm  off.  (See  page  77  for  Hogarty's 
story.)  I  served  in  the  same  section  and  at  the  same  gun  with  him  in  this 
battle. 

"Naturally  this  was  my  last  battle." 


—  116- 


"I'D  RATHER  BE  KILLED, 
THAN  CALLED  A  COWARD 


w 


MATTHEW  S.  QUAY, 

Colonel,  134th  Pa.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Colonel,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  at  Diilsburg,  York  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  30, 1833. 


HILE  Colonel  Matthew  S.  Quay  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth 
Pennsylvania  Infantry  he  contracted  typhoid  fever 
at  Falmouth,  Va.,  opposite  Fredericksburg,  in  the 
latter  part  of  1862.  He  was  so  broken  down  by  the 
disease  that  his  friends  urged  him  to  resign  his 
commission  and  go  home  to  recuperate.  Colonel 
Quay  finally  applied  for  his  discharge.  General 
Tyler,  handing  him  his  papers,  told  him  that  he 
regretted  his  departure,  particularly  at  this  time, 
as  they  expected  to  go  into  action  very  soon.  On 
hearing  this  Colonel  Quay  refused  to  accept  the  papers,  and  declared  his  intention 
of  waiting  for  the  battle.  General  Tyler  told  him,  that  he  would  be  foolish  to 
remain,  in  his  broken  state  of  health,  and  furthermore,  that  his  discharge  had 
been  signed  and  he  was  a  private  citizen.  The  general  said  that  if  he  went 
into  the  battle,  he  could  surely  not  survive  it,  and  all  concurred  in  the  advisa 
bility  of  his  going  home.  Colonel  Quay  put  these  kindly  suggestions  aside  with 
an  impatient  gesture,  and  said:  ''I'll  be  in  this  battle,  if  1  have  to  take  a  mus 
ket  and  fight  as  a  private,  for  I  would  rather  be  killed  in  battle  and  be  called 
a  fool,  than  go  home  and  be  called  a  coward." 

General  Tyler,  seeing  that  further  argument  would  be  useless,  gave  in,  and 
made  him  an  aide  on  his  staff,  in  which  capacity  he  fought  all  day  and  well 
into  the  night  in  the  famous  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 


FOUGHT,  WHEN    HE    SHOULD    BE    AT  THE 

HOSPITAL 


CORPORAL  MARTIN  SCHUBERT,  Company  E,  Twenty-Sixth  New  York  Infantry, 
writes:  ''I  received  my  first  wound  at  Antietam,  September  17,  1862,  and 
was  sent  to  the  Columbia  College  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  treatment. 
While  there  I  was  given  furlough  to  go  home,  but,  instead  of  doing  so  I  went 
back  to  the  regiment,  and  joined  it  at  Brook  Station,  Va.,  December  10,  1862. 
We  crossed  the  Rappahannock  below  Fredericksburg  on  the  night  of  the  12th, 
and  the  battle  opened  about  seven  o'clock  next  morning. 


—  117  — 

"My  old  wound,  not  yet  healed,  still  gave  me  considerable  trouble.  I  went 
into  the  battle  with  the  regiment,  however,  against  the  protests  of  my  colonel 
and  captain,  who  insisted  that  I  should  use  the  furlough.  I  thought  the  Govern 
ment  needed  me  on  the  battlefield  rather  than  at  home. 

"Within  an  hour  I  received  another  wTound,  this  time  in  the  left  side.  I  still 
carry  the  bullet. 

"General  Burnside  knowing  of  the  fact  that  I  had  gone  into  the  battle  while 
I  had  a  furlough  and  should  have  been  in  the  hospital,  promised  me  then  and 
there  a  Medal  of  Honor,  which  I  received  in  due  time." 


JACOB    G.  FRICK, 

Colonel,  129th  Pa.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Northumberland,  Pa.,  Jan.  23, 1825. 


SEIZED  THE   COLORS 

AND  TOOK  THE  LEAD 


c 


OLONEL  JACOB  G.  FRICK,  with  the  One 
hundred  and  twenty-ninth  Pennsyl 
vania  Infantry  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  fighting  at  Fredericksburg.  Charge 
after  charge  had  been  made  on  the  stone 
wall  and  other  parts  of  the  rebel  works, 
each  attempt  meeting  with  a  bloody  re 
pulse.  In  spite  of  these  repeated  failures 
and  futile  efforts,  it  was  deemed  expe 
dient  to  try  a  further  experiment,  and 
Tyler's  Brigade  of  Humphrey's  Division 
was  chosen  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
the  stone  wall,  behind  which  a  heavy 
force  of  the  enemy  was  strongly  en 
trenched.  The  brigade  was  formed  ready 
for  the  charge.  Before  the  word  was 
given  to  advance,  Generals  Hooker,  Butterfield,  and  Humphrey  rode  up  to 
Colonel  Frick,  who  occupied  his  proper  position  in  the  formation  in  the 
rear  of  the  Ninety-first  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  on  the  left  of  the  line,  and 
expressed  the  desire  that  he  should  lead  the  charge  with  the  One  hundred  and 
twenty-ninth  Infantry,  informing  him:  "that  he  had  a  most  difficult  job  be 
fore  him." 

In  conformity  with   the  desire  of   his  superior   officers,  Colonel   Frick    moved 
his  regiment  between  the  files  of  the  Ninety-first,  and,  upon  orders,  led  his  com- 


—  118  — 

mand  boldly  up  to  the  very  base  of  the  stone  wall,  where  the  enemy  poured 
forth  a  merciless  fire  of  musketry  upon  him,  aided  by  the  fire  from  numerous 
batteries  posted  on  Marye's  Heights. 

The  charge  was  a  signal  failure.  Flesh  and  blood  could  not  stand  the  ter 
rible  fire  which  met  them  from  the  stone  wall  enveloping  the  whole  command 
in  a  sheet  of  flame. 

Colonel  Frick's  Joss  was  143  out  of  the  500  men  of  the  One  hundred  and 
twenty-ninth  taken  into  action.  He  himself  was  hit  by  pieces  of  shell  in  the 
thigh  and  right  ear.  A  shell  from  the  batteries  concentrating  their  fire  on  the 
charging  column,  struck  a  horse  at  his  side  and  literally  covered  him  with  the  flesh 
and  blood  of  the  slaughtered  animal.  At  the  critical  point  of  this  charge  the 
color-bearer  was  shot  down,  but  the  colonel  quickly  seized  the  colors  and  took 
the  lead.  Shortly  afterward  the  flagstaff  was  shot  off  in  his  hands,  close  to  his 
head,  and  the  flag  fell  drooping  over  his  shoulders.  But  he  steadily  advanced, 
leading  his  men  through  the  terrible  fire. 


AT  THE  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  May  3,  1863,  Colonel  Frick,  with  the  One 
hundred  and  twenty-ninth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  on  the  right  of  the  bri 
gade,  occupied  a  conspicuous  position,  and  was  brought  into  action  in  the  midst 
of  the  heaviest  fighting.  French's  Division  was  on  his  left,  but  the  nature  of  the 
ground  was  such  that  the  colonel  felt  justified  in  occupying  a  more  advanced 
position.  Having  held  this  position  against  superior  numbers,  until  many  of 
his  men  had  fallen,  and  long  after  the  troops  that  covered  his  right  and  left 
had  retired,  he  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  already  passed  his  right  flank  and 
was  gaining  his  rear.  Then  he  retired  in  good  order  to  the  rear  of  the  batteries, 
which  had  gotten  into  position,  while  his  steady  musketry  held  the  enemy  in 
check. 

He  had  retired  none  too  soon,  for  the  enemy  fell  upon  him,  captured  his  col 
ors  arid  a  few  prisoners,  including  his  lieutenant-colonel.  Colonel  Frick  quickly 
rallied  his  men,  and,  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight,  recaptured  comrades  and  colors  and 
brought  to  his  rear  as  prisoners  the  very  Confederates  who  had  made  the  dash. 


CAPTURED   THREE    HUNDRED    REBELS 


FIRST  LIEUTENANT  E.  M.  WOODWARD  relates  a  most  thrilling  adventure,  of  which 
perhaps,  the  most  remarkable  feature  was  his  escape  uninjured: 
"At  Fredericksburg  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves  held  the  left  of   our  line,  and 
when    we    charged    the   rifle-pits,  our   brigade   struck   the   left   of    Archer's    and 
passed  up  the  Heights.     I  saw  that  the  pit  was   still   held   by   the   enemy,  and, 
knowing  the  danger  of  leaving  an  armed  foe  in  our  rear,  I  succeeded  in  halting 


—  119  — 


E.  M.  WOODWARD, 

1st  Lieutenant,  2d  Pa.  Reserves. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Major. 

Born  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March  11,  1838. 


some  twenty  men,  and,  with  them  attacked 
the  pit  from  high  ground  in  the  rear,  hop 
ing  to  hold  the  occupants  in  position  until 
assistance  came.  In  ahout  twenty  minutes 
the  Seventh  Reserves  advanced,  halted  some 
three  hundred  yards  in  our  front,  and  opened 
fire,  their  balls  passing  over  the  enemy  into 
our  men. 

"Instantly  realizing  that  we  should  be 
wiped  out  if  something  were  not  done,  I 
sheathed  my  sword,  and.  with  my  hat  in 
hand,  advanced  between  the  lines  to  the 
rifle-pits,  stopped  the  fire  of  my  own  men 
and  that  of  the  enemy,  and  demanded 
and  received  the  surrender  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Georgia  regiment.  The  rebel  color- 
bearer  attempted  to  escape  up  the  heights  with  his  flag,  but  I  headed  him  off 

and   captured    it.     I  gave  it  to  Charles  Uphorn,    who   was 

soon   afterwards    wounded,   and   it    fell   into    the    hands 

of  the  Seventh  Reserves. 

"  By  this  time  all  but  five  men  of  my  small  party  were 

killed  or  wounded,  and,  seeing  the  impossibility  of  hold 
ing  the  prisoners  with  this  handful,  I  crossed  the 

rifle-pits,  and,   with  a  Confederate  on  each  side, 

advanced    towards    the    Seventh,   waving    my 

bat  and  thereby  stopping  their  destructive 

fire.     Returning  to  the  rifle-pits,   I  got  the 

Johnnies  out,  and  sent  them  with  their  arms 

and    accoutrements    over    to    the    Seventh. 

They    numbered    over   three    hundred,  and 

were  the  only  prisoners  taken  in  this  battle. 

With  the  remainder  of  my  men  I  advanced 

up  the  Heights  and  joined  the  brigade,  which 

was  soon  after  crushed  out  and  driven  over 

the    rifle-pits.      During   this   fight    thirteen 

bullets   pierced  my  clothing  and  hat,  but  I 

felt   that   my  own   men   could  not  kill  me 

while  I  was  saving  their  lives.     It  was  this 

conviction  which  gave  me  courage  to  step 

between    the     firing    lines    and    stop    the 

deadly  fusilade."  i 

"STOPPING  THEIR   FIRE" 


—  120  — 


SAVED    HIS 

CAPTAIN'S    BROTHER 


A' 


FRANCIS   H.  GOODALL, 

1st  Sergeant,  Co.  G,  llth  X.  H.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Bath,  X.  H.,  January  10,  1838. 


T  THE  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.," 
Sergeant  F.  H.  Goodall  writes,  ''both  of 
the  lieutenants  being  sick,  I  was  directed  by 
Captain  George  E.  Pingree  of  Company  G, 
Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Volunteers  to  act 
as  lieutenant  during  the  engagement,  and 
told  that  the  regiment  had  been  ordered  to 
advance  from  Princess  Charlotte  Street,  Fred 
ericksburg  (in  the  lower  part  of  town),  to 
attack  the  Confederates  at  1 1 : 30  A.  M. '  We 
were  the  first  regiment  of  our  brigade  to 
make  the  advance,  and  it  was  our  first  real 
battle. 

"We  marched  out  in  the  rear  of  the  city, 
under  a  very  heavy  fire  of  shot,  shells,  and 
musketry,  past  some  brickkilns,  filed  to  the 
right,  crossed  the  Fredericksburg  and  Richmond  Railroad,  and  went  up  on  a  little 
crest  or  elevation,  within  twenty- five  rods  of  the  famous  '  Stone  Wall,'  at  the  foot  of 
Marye's  Heights,  facing  McLaw's  and  Cobb's  Confederate  troops  under  General 
Longstreet,  without  any  breastworks  or  protection,  commenced  firing  and  so  con 
tinued  until  all  of  ths  ammunition  we  had  was  expended  —  sixty  rounds  to  each 
man.  Our  regiment  remained  there  for  six  long  hours  under  a  galling  fire,  and 
lost  nearly  200  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  After  the  battle,  there  were  620 
dead  bodies  by  actual  count  picked  up  on  the  place  immediately  at  and  close 
by  the  spot  where  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  fought. 

"Early  in  the  engagement,  William  L.  Pingree,  one  of  the  sergeants  of  Com 
pany  G,  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  and  a  brother  of  Captain  George 
E.  Pingree  of  the  same  company  and  regiment,  was  very  badly  wounded  in  the 
head,  and  Captain  Pingree  said  to  me:  'Orderly,  if  anything  happens  to  me,  will 
you  see  that  my  brother  Will  gets  off  the  field  all  right?'  I  replied:  'I  will 
do  so.' 

"Not  long  after  that,  a  shell  burst  close  by  us,  killed  two  men.  and  knocked 
Captain  Pingree  over,  so  that  we  supposed  for  some  little  time  that  he  would 
not  regain  consciousness.  But  he  revived,  although  still  feeling  dazed,  and  just 
before  dark  he  retired  with  his  company  and  the  regiment  to  the  city,  while  I 


—  121  — 

remained  to  take  his  brother  off  the  field  as  I  had  promised,  and  selected  Ches 
ter  Simons,  another  sergeant  of  our  company,  to  assist  me. 

"So,  when  the  firing  had  about  ceased  and  we  thought  the  battle  wras  all 
over  for  that  day,  we  started  to  take  the  captain's  brother  off  the  field.  But 
we  had  gone  only  a  very  short  distance  before  a  wild  yell  broke  out  on  our  right 
and  immediately  the  firing  began,  faster  and  more  furious  than  at  any  time 
during  the  day,  and  we  wTere  right  out  in  the  open  field  back  of  the  city,  ex 
posed  to  the  whole  of  it.  It  was  the  last  desperate  charge  of  General  Meagher's 
Irish  Brigade,  and  the  bullets  flew  like  hail;  but  we  managed  to  escape  some 
how  and  finally  got  back  to  camp  in  the  city  with  the  regiment,  and  with  the 
captain's  brother,  who  lived  almost  three  years  before  he  died  from  the  effects 
of  his  terrible  wound." 


TRADED  HIS  INSTRUMENT 
FOR   A    GUN 


ONE  of  the  many  acts  of  daring  and  pluck 
that    occurred    during    the   battle    of 
Fredericksburg,   is   here   described   by   Ser 
geant  Philip  Petty,  the  hero  of  the  action : 

'•  In  August,  1862,  I  enlisted  as  a  musi 
cian  in  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-sixth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  but  not  long  aft 
er  my  enlistment,  I  exchanged  places  with 
a  private  of  Company  A,  and  took  his  gun. 
I  was  soon  promoted  to  corporal  and  ser 
geant,  and  in  the  latter  capacity  was  fre 
quently  called  upon  by  our  captain  to 
temporarily  fill  higher  positions. 

"In  December,  1862.  we  found  ourselves 

encamped  near  Bell  Plain  Landing.  Va.,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  we 
crossed  the  river  below  Fredericksburg.  on  our  way  to  battle.  While  at  a  halt 
near  the  bank  of  the  river,  we  could  plainly  see  the  lines  of  battle  to  our  right, 
while  in  front  and  to  our  left,  for  a  considerable  distance,  the  ground  was  cov 
ered  with  tall  grass.  We  were  ordered  forward  and  advanced  slowly,  when 
suddenly,  within  a  few  rods  from  us,  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  rose  from  the 
grass  and  fired  a  volley  into  our  ranks.  We  retaliated,  lay  down,  loaded,  rose, 
and  fired,  and  continued  this  operation  until  we  reached  the  railroad,  slowly 


PHILIP   PETTY, 

Sergeant.  Co.  A,  13<Hh  Pa.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Tingewick,  England,  May  17, 1840. 


—  122  — 

driving  the  rebels  back.  Comrades  were  falling  all  around  me  and,  the  color- 
sergeant  being  wounded,  the  colonel  at  once  called  for  some  one  to  carry  the 
fallen  colors.  At  the  time  the  colonel  made  this  request  I  was  busy  taking 
charge  of  and  marching  to  the  rear  the  Confederates  whom  we  had  captured  in 
the  battle,  and  as  no  one  else  responded,  I  stepped  up  and  told  him  1  would 
pick  up  the  colors,  and  carried  them  in  the  advance  until  we  were  repulsed  by 
a  flank  movement  of  the  enemy  and  were  ordered  to  retreat. 


"I   PLANTED  THE  FLAGSTAFF  IN   THE  GROUND" 


"I  had  advanced  a  little  beyond  the  railroad  track  with  the  colors  when  the 
retreat  was  ordered,  and,  as  T  could  not  very  well  retreat  with  a  gun  and  the 
colors  in  my  hands,  I  planted  the  flagstaff  in  the  ground  and  fired  about  thirty 
rounds  into  the  rebels,  then  broke  my  gun  by  striking  it  on  the  rails,  and  car 
ried  the  colors  safely  off  the  field.  The  colonel  formed  what  was  left  of  the 
regiment  in  a  hollow  square,  and  when  he  told  the  boys  what  I  had  done,  they 
gave  me  three  rousing  cheers,  after  which  the  colonel  promoted  me  to  be  color- 
sergeant." 


—  123  — 


A    CHARGE    IN    WATER 

AND    DARKNESS 


MILTON   T.    RUSSEL, 
Captain,  Co.  A,  51st  Ind.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Born  at  North  Salem,  Ind.,  Sc]«i .  i">.  ls::ti. 


"  A  BOUT  nine  o'clock  on  December  29,  1862." 
/i  writes  Captain  Milton  T.  Russel,  " an 
orderly  came  quietly  along  the  line  of  sleeping 
soldiers  and  in  a  low  tone  called  my  name,  and 
said  that  Colonel  Streight  wanted  to  see  me. 
I  went  a  short  distance  with  the  orderly  and 
found  the  colonel  and  General  Harker  stand 
ing  by  their  horses  in  consultation.  They  had 
just  returned  from  a  reconnoissance.  The  col 
onel  said :  '  Russel.  take  your  Company  A,  move 
quietly  to  the  front  until  you  come  to  the  river 
(which  was  about  200  yards  in  our  immediate 

front),  wade  across,  form  your  company  on  the  south  bank,  and  wait  for  further 
orders.'  He  explained  that  General  Wood,  our  division  commander,  was  ordered 
to  cross  and  attack  the  enemy  at  that  point  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  and 
he  wanted  to  know  more  about  the  ford  and  find  whether  or  not  the  enemy 
were  close  down  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  This  move  was  necessary  in  order 
to  fully  develop  the  enemy's  position.  It  required  but  a  moment  to  return  to 
my  company  and  form  it  in  line,  as  the  men  had  rolled  up  in  their  blankets 
without  removing  any  of  their  clothing.  It  was  cold  and  chilly,  and  all  the  men 
were  lying  on  their  arms.  Without  further  ceremony  the  company  moved  off. 
As  we  left  the  regiment,  the  officers  were  busy  forming  the  men  into  line  to 
support  us.  We  moved  down  and  crossed  the  river,  wading  it  with  the  wTater 


Stone  River.  —  On  the  30th  of  December,  1862,  the  Confederate  General  Bragg  had  concentrated 
his  army  of  62,000  two  miles  in  front  of  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

The  position  of  the  Union  Army  43,000  strong,  under  the  Reserves,  was  on  the  west  bank  of  Stone 
Eiver.  The  line  ranged  north  and  south  three  or  four  miles,  the  left  wing  touching  the  river. 

On  the  31st  Johnson's  Union  Division  was  furiously  charged  and  swept  away  by  the  enemy's  left 
under  Bragg,  who  followed  up  his  advantage  by  driving  off  Davis,  and  rushing  upon  the  next  division 
under  Sheridan,  who  retired  after  an  hour's  hard  fighting,  losing  1,630  of  his  men. 

Eosecrans  had  massed  his  artillery  on  a  knoll  in  the  rear,  which  was  assailed  by  four  charges  of 
the  enemy,  who  were  repulsed  with  great  loss. 

Bragg  then  brought  up  Breckenridge  with  7,000  fresh  men,  but  his  attacks  were  also  unsuccessful. 

On  the  1st  of  January  nothing  was  done.  On  the  2d,  Rosecrans  threw  a  force  across  the  river, 
and,  with  his  artillery  on  the  heights  almost  destroyed  Breckenridge's  Division,  which  was  ordered  to 
drive  him  from  the  river. 

On  the  3d  Bragg  withdrew.  His  loss  was  14,700  men.  On  the  Union  side  there  was  a  loss  of 
11,553.  More  than  a  third  of  our  artillery  and  a  large  portion  of  our  train  were  taken. 


—  124  — 


in  some  places  up  to  our  hips.     Talk  about  cold  water  or  a  cold  bath,  it  was  so 
cold  that  our  teeth  chattered ! 

"As  the  company  was  nearing  the  opposite  shore  a  terrific  volley  was  fired 
from  behind  a  rail  fence  not  over  forty  steps  in  our  front.  The  enemy,  being 
on  higher  ground  than  we,  fired  too  high,  their  bullets  taking  effect  in  the  regi 
ment  that  was  standing  in  line  where  we  left  them  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  There  were  but  two  ways  out  of  the  trap:  one  was  to  recross  the  river, 
the  other  was  to  advance.  There  was  only  a  second  in  which  to  decide  which 
horn  of  the  dilem 
ma  to  take.  It 
flashed  through 
my  mind  that 
their  guns  were 
empty,  ours 
loaded.  I 
gave  the 


"WE  MOVED  ACROSS 

THE  RIVER 


command  : '  On  right  into  line,  double-quick,  charge ' ;  and  in  less  time  than  it 
takes  to  tell  it,  we  were  over  that  fence.  My  boys  emptied  their  guns,  fixed 
bayonets,  and  went  at  them.  The  best  troops  on  earth  will  not  stand  with 
empty  guns  and  receive  cold  steel.  The  Johnnies  gave  way  and  Company  A, 
Fifty-first  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry  followed  right  at  their  heels.  Before  I 
could  bring  the  men  to  a  halt  the  rebel  line  was  driven  back  400  yards  and  the 
desired  information  obtained.  Had  the  charge  proved  a  failure  I  would  have 
been  court-martialed  for  exceeding  my  orders.  As  it  turned  out  all  right,  Uncle 
Sam  has  conferred  this  beautiful  medal  on  me,  but  no  captain  ever  had  the 
honor  of  commanding  a  braver  body  of  troops  than  I  had  in  that  charge." 


—  125  — 


LIKE    AN    ANGEL   AMONG 

THE    WOUNDED 


o 


N  THE  night  of   December  30,  1862,  my  regi 
ment,  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  was  ordered  to 


REV.  JOHN   M.  WHITEHEAD, 

Chaplain  of  the  15th  Ind.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Wayne  Co.,  Ind.,  March  6,  1823. 


cross  Stone  River,  at  the  ford.  The  command 
was  obeyed,  but  as  we  advanced  up  the  hill  on 
the  opposite  side,  we  met  the  enemy  in  force,  and, 
countermarching,  recrossed  the  river.  Here  we 
bivouacked.  Early  the  next  morning  our  colonel 
passed  along  the  officers'  lines  and  said  :  '  Get  your 
men  up.  Our  pickets  are  falling  back.  The  en 
emy  is  advancing.'  In  a  second  we  were  all  astir, 
and  at  the  dawn  of  day  the  bloody  battle  of  Stone 
River  commenced. 

"Our  position   was    between    Stone    River   on 

our  left  and  the  railroad  and  turnpike  on  our  right,  and  directly  in  front  of 
Breckenridge's  Corps.  The  tiring  from  the  Confederate  batteries  was  terrible 
and  very  destructive. 

"Colonel  G.  A.  Wood,  who  commanded  our  regiment,  was  ordered  to  hold  our 
position  on  the  left,  nearest  to  the  river,  at 'all  hazards.  Three  times  he  charged 
Jackson's  Brigade  and  three  times  put  the  enemy  to  flight,  capturing  a  greater 
number  of  prisoners  than  there  were  men  in  our  own  command  when  we  went 
into  battle.  But  this  was  accomplished  only  with  a  fearful  loss  of  life.  Of  my 
own  regiment  every  alternate  man  was  either  killed  or  wounded.  Though  a 
non-combatant,  I  was  with  my  regiment  during  the  entire  battle,  comforting  the 
dying,  carrying  off  the  wounded  and  caring  for  them. 

"During  the  struggle  Captain  Singleton  fell,  fatally  wounded.  I  carried  him 
to  the  rear  and  remained  at  his  side,  until  he  breathed  his  last.  I  copied  his 
last  message  and  sent  it  to  his  friends  at  home.  My  own  next-door  neighbor  in 
Westville,  Ind.,  Captain  J.  N.  Forster,  dropped  mortally  wounded  into  my  arms, 
the  same  ball  killing  two  other  brave  soldiers. 

"  Colonel  I.  C.  B.  Surnan,  of  the  Ninth  Indiana,  was  shot  twice,  one  ball  sever 
ing  the  artery  in  the  arm,  the  other  penetrating  the  body  and  lodging  between 
two  ribs,  whence  I  pulled  it  out. 

"One  boot  was  filled  with  blood  and  he  was  bleeding  his  life  away.  I 
dressed  his  wounds  and  helped  him  on  his  horse  and  he  rode  back  into  the  ra 
ging  battle.  John  Long,  a  private,  had  one  leg  shot  to  pieces.  He  cut  the  dan 
gling  limb  off  with  his  pocketknife  and  hobbled  off  using  his  gun  for  a  crutch, 
until  I  took  him  up  and  carried  him  to  the  rear.  Calvin  Zenner  of  Company 


126  — 


its 


G,  received  a  fatal  wound.  I  carried  him  back.  A  number  of  soldiers  gathered 
around  the  dying  comrade  and  I  offered  a  prayer  for  him.  He  talked  to  all  of 
us  and  then  said:  'Now  boys,  let  us  all  once  more  sing  a  song  together.'  And 
he  struck  up  the  hymn,  '  0  B  ^m 

Sing  to  Me  of  Heaven.' 
Then  he  said:  'Good-bye 
boys,  I  am  going  home.  I 
am  mustered  out.'  And  he 
closed  his  eyes  and  ceased 
to  breathe.  After  night 
fall,  when  both  armies  were 
quiet  along  the  front  lines, 
L  helped  to  bring  the  wound 
ed  to  the  general  hospital, 
carrying  those  who  could 
not  walk  on  my  shoulder 
to  the  ambulance." 

Chaplain  John  M.  White- 
head  who  furnishes  the  fore 
going  vivid  pen  picture  from 
the   battlefield   with  all 
horrors,  modestly   omits 
to   mention    that    he 
helped  many  hundreds 
of  wounded   soldiers, 
brought  comfort  and 
solace    to    a    great 
number  of  dying  and 
preached  at  many  a 
hero's    grave.      Col 
onel  I.  C.  B.  Surnan 
says  of  him  :  "  I  was 
severely  wounded  at 
the   battle  of  Stone 
River.     When  Chap 
lain  White  head  gave 
me  his  assistance,  he 
was    all    besmeared 
with    the    blood    of 
the  wounded  he  had 
cared  for.  He  seemed 
to  be  an  angel 


—  127  — 

the  wounded,  Yankees  and  Johnnies  alike.  He  thought  nothing  of  the  danger 
he  was  in,  caring  for  the  wounded,  looking  after  the  dead,  directing  and  assist 
ing  their  burial.  I  came  in  contact  with  many  chaplains  during  my  long  serv 
ice  in  the  army  and  can  truthfully  state,  that  Rev.  John  M.  Whitehead  was  the 
most  worthy  one  that  ever  came  under  my  notice.  In  camp,  on  the  march,  and 
on  the  field  of  battle,  especially  that  of  Stone  River,  his  services  were  per 
formed  admirably,  and  without  the  hope  of  reward  or  promotion." 


BROUGHT   IN    HIS   MAJOR  — DEAD 


JOSEPH   R.  PRENTICE, 

Private,  Co.  E,  19th  U.  S.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Lancaster,  Fairfleld  Co.,  Ohio, 

Dec.  6,  1838. 


PRIVATE  JOSEPH  R.  PRENTICE  writes  :  "  It  was  at  the 
battle  of  Stone  River  that  Major  Carpenter  was 
killed.  We  had  been  ordered  to  advance  on  the  en 
emy,  so  we  formed  up,  and,  inarching  at  ease,  we  left 
the  wood  which  had  sheltered  us  up  to  that  time,  and 
started  to  cross  a  large,  barren  field.  As  soon  as  we 
emerged  from  the  cover  of  the  wood,  the  enemy  opened 
a  terrible  fusilade  on  us,  and  several  of  our  men  were 
killed.  The  Confederates  had  a  small  breastwork  or 
shelter  on  the  other  side  of  the  clearing  among  some 
cedar  trees,  about  five  hundred  yards  from  the  position 
which  we  occupied.  From  this  shelter  they  kept  up  a 
galling  fire  on  our  men.  Our  brigade  was  in  the  middle 

of  the  line  of  attack,  and  very  soon   the  rebels   slackened  their  fire  on  our  divi 
sion  and  concentrated  all  their  energies  upon  the  two  wings  of  our  line. 

'•  It  was  evident  that  if  the  flanks  were  weakened,  the  enemy  could  very  eas 
ily  surround  us  almost  completely  and  so  have  us  wholly  at  their  mercy.  To 
defeat  this  plan  Major  Carpenter  ordered  us  to  retreat  in  good  order,  and,  after 
we  had  about  faced,  he  fell  in  behind,  and  proceeded  to  follow  us  in  the  rear. 

"  No  sooner  did  the  enemy  see  us  retreating,  than  they  opened  fire  on  us 
again.  I  was  in  the  front  rank  in  the  advance,  now  in  the  rear  in  the  retreat, 
and  could  plainly  see  the  awrful  destruction  wrought  upon  our  ranks  by  the 
death-dealing  work  of  the  enemy.  Suddenly,  above  the  din  and  roar  of  battle,  I 
heard  our  major  call  out:  'Scatter  and  run,  boys!'  and  was  about  to  join  the 
rest  in  the  rush  to  a  place  of  safety,  when  I  heard  a  horse  bearing  down  on  me 
like  mad.  As  I  ran,  I  looked  around,  and  saw  that  it  was  Major  Carpenter's 
horse  dashing  after  us,  frenzied  by  several  slight  bullet  wounds.  By  yelling  at 
him  I  managed  to  turn  him  and  head  him  along  our  lines.  Then  I  rushed  after 


— 128  — 

the  boys  to  tell  them  of  the  fate  of  the  major,  but  did  not  manage  to  see  any 
of  the  commanding  officers  until  we  had  retreated  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
Then  I  gained  permission  to  return  and  look  for  him.  Back  I  went  at  the  top 
of  my  speed,  and  as  soon  as  I  entered  the  clearing  the  enemy's  sharpshooters 
opened  a  brisk  fire  on  me.  Still  1  was  bound  to  find  the  major  if  possible,  and, 


"I  MANAGED  TO  TURN  THE  HORSE 

knowing  about  where  he  fell,  rushed  to  the  spot.  Bullets  ploughed  up  little 
puffs  of  dust  at  my  feet  and  whistled  around  my  head.  A  short  spurt  more  and 
I  was  at  the  place.  Glancing  round  I  saw  him  lying  face  downward  upon  the 
dust,  and  rushed  to  his  assistance.  But,  poor  fellow,  he  was  past  need  of  human 
assistance  !  Nevertheless,  I  picked  him  up  and  carried  him  to  the  rear,  my  ears 
filled  with  the  mournful  dirge  of  the  bullets  that  threatened  me  at  every  step." 


—  129  — 


SAVED    A    BATTALION 


< 

\r""ir 

\ 


FREDERICK   PHISTERER, 

1st  Lieutenant,  18th  U.  S.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet  Brig-Gen.,  N.  Y.  N.  G. 

Bom  in  Germany. 


THE  regular  brigade  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  consisting  of  battalions  from 
the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  Nineteenth,  and  two 
of  the  Eighteenth  regiments  of  infantry  and 
Battery  H,  Fifth  Artillery,  marched  early  on  a 
gray  frosty  morning,  December  31,  1862,  from 
Stewart's  Creek,  where  it  had  bivouacked  dur 
ing  the  night,  to  the  battlefield  of  Stone 
River  or  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  arriving 
there  at  about  eight  o'clock.  After  having 
been  drawn  up  in  column  for  possibly  an 
hour  the  brigade  was  ordered  into  the  cedars 
to  the  support  of  the  right  wing  which  was 
obviously  being  forced  back  by  the  enemy. 

•  The     two    battalions    of    the     Eighteenth 
formed  the   left  wing,   the   other  three    bat 
talion   the  right  wing.      The   position   of   the   battery  was  between    the   battal 
ion  of  the  Sixteenth  and  the  Second  Battalion  of  the  Eighteenth,  the  right  and 
left  wings. 

The  infantry  marched  into  the  woods  and  after  a  march  of  about  fifteen  min 
utes  on  a  wood  road,  the  battalions  of  the  Eighteenth  regiment  received  orders 
to  halt — which  order  was  executed. 

After  some  ten  minutes  or  more  had  elapsed  Major  Frederick  Townsend,  com 
manding  the  detachment  of  the  Eighteenth  Infantry  consisting  of  his  own.  the 
Second  and  the  First  Battalions,  received  orders  to  return  and  support  the  battery 
of  the  brigade.  This  order  indicated  that  the  battery  was  to  the  rear, —  yet, 
there  was  a  possibility  that  it  might  have  gone  to  the  front  on  another  road 
and  joined  the  right  wing.  In  order  to  make  sure  that  this  was  not  the  case, 
Major  Townsend  sent  an  orderly  to  the  rear  to  find  the  battery  and  Lieutenant 
Frederick  Phisterer,  his  adjutant,  volunteered  to  go  to  the  front,  find  the  remainder 
of  the  brigade  and  ascertain  whether  or  not  the  battery  was  with  it.  After  a 
gallop  of  about  ten  minutes  along  the  wood  road,  which  first  lead  directly  toward 
the  approaching  enemy  and  then  turned  to  the  right  along  his  front.  Lieutenant 
Phisterer  came  up  with  the  battalion  of  the  Sixteenth  Infantry  under  Major 
Slemmer  which  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  and  under  a  heavy  fire.  From 
the  moment  that  he  had  come  to  the  turn  in  the  road  he  had  been  exposed  to 
musketry  fire  which  increased  in  force  as  he  came  nearer  the  battalion  of  the 
Sixteenth. 


—  130  — 


He  reported  to  Major  Slemmer,  inquired  if  the  major  had  seen  anything  of 
the  battery,  and  received  the  information  that  Major  Slemmer  had  not  seen  any 
thing  of  it  and  did  not  know  its  whereabouts. 

This  showed  conclusively  that  the  battery  was  not  in  advance  as  it  was 
thought  possible  to  be.  Lieutenant  Phisterer  informed  Major  Slemmer  of  the 
orders  received  by  Major  Townsend.  This  was  the  first  intimation  Major  Slem 
mer  had  received  of  any  movement  since  he  had  struck  the  enemy,  and  as  there 
was  no  support  on  his  left  and  any  delay  might  cause  the  capture  of  his  bat 
talion,  Major  Slemmer  decided  to  fall  back. 

Lieutenant  Phisterer  then  returned  by  the  road  over  which  he  had  come  un 
der  a  very  uncomfortable  fire,  and  rejoined  his  battalion,  which  he  found  mov 
ing  out  of  the  woods  into  the  open  field,  there  to  support  the  brigade  battery 
of  whose  whereabouts  the  orderly  sent  by  Major  Townsend  had  brought  word. 

Lieutenant  Phisterer,  in  voluntarily  going  to  the  front  and  continuing  his 
search  for  the  battery  in  the  face  of  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy  until  he  found 
the  left  battalion  of  the  right  wing  of  the  brigade,  imparting  to  its  commanding 
officer  the  situation  and  the  orders  received  by  the  left  wing  of  the  brigade,  un 
questionably  saved  that  battalion  at  least  and  probably  another  battalion  to  its 
right  from  annihilation  or  capture.  The  brigade  had  but  barely  formed  in  sup 
port  of  its  battery  in  the  new  position  of  the  latter,  when  the  enemy  came  out 
of  the  woods  and  made  most  determined  and  repeated  efforts  to  take  the  bat 
tery,  which  efforts  were,  however,  sturdily  defeated  by  the  latter,  its  regular  sup 
ports,  and  additional  troops  formed  to  the  left  and  right  of  the  brigade;  the 
determined  assault  showing  that  the  strength  of  the  enemy  greatly  exceeded  the 
few  hundred  men  of  the  right  wing  of  the  regular  brigade  engaging  him  but 
half  an  hour  before 


"FOR  GOD'S  SAKE, 

RUN!"— HE   RAN 


SQUIRE   E.    HOWARD, 

1st  Sergeant,  8th  Vt.  Infantry. 

Highest  rnnk  attained  :  Captain. 

Born  in  Jamaica,  Vt.,  May  15,  1840. 


JANUARY  13,  1863,  a  force  of  infantry,  which  in 
cluded  the  Eighth  Vermont  Infantry  and  four 
small  gun-boats,  under  General  Godfrey  Weitzel, 
attacked  an  entrenched  force  of  the  enemy,  sup 
ported  by  the  Cotton,  a  very  formidable  ironclad 
gun-boat,  at  a  point  on  the  Bayou  Teche,  La.  The 
object  of  the  expedition  was  the  destruction  of  the 
ironclad,  as  she  was  much  more  powerful  than  any 
other  of  the  fleet,  and  threatened  the  safety  of  the 
camps  at  Brashear  City. 


—  131  — 


On  the  morning  of  the 
second   day  of   the   fight, 
General  Weitzel  asked  for 
sixty  volunteers  from  the 
Eighth   Vermont,    to    act 
as    sharpshooters.      They 
were  to  be   carried   on  a 
gun-boat  as  near  as  pos 
sible  to  the  enemy's  iron 
clad,  and  there  landed. to 
steal  up   near  enough  to 
pick  off  the  gunners.  Cap 
tain  H.  F.  Button  of  Com 
pany    H,   volunteered   to   lead   the  party 
on   this    dangerous    mission,  and  was   at 
once    confronted    with    the    necessity    of 
selecting  his  sixty  men   from  more  than 
twice  that  number,  who   stepped   to  the 
front   at  the   call  for  volunteers.     When 
finally     selected,    the  number     included 
First  Sergeant  S.  E.  Howard  of  Button's 
Company. 

The  party  was  carried  on  the  gun-boat 
Diana,  to   the    point    where   our    three    gun 
boats   were   hotly  engaged   with   the   enemy, 
where   it   was    found   that   the   Calhoun,    the 
largest  of  our  boats,  and  the  flagship,  carry 
ing   Commodore   Buchanan,  the  commanding 
officer  of  our  fleet,  had  run  hard  aground  on  a 

bar ;  that  the  enemy  having  foreseen  this,  had  a  force  in  the  rifle-pits  on  the  shore 
near  by,  had  killed  Commodore  Buchanan  and  many  men  on  the  Calhoun,  driving 
the  survivors  from  the  guns,  and  were  getting  boats  to  board  and  capture  her. 
At  this  critical  moment  Button  arrived  on  the  Diana,  and  was  eagerly  hailed  by 
the  nearest  boat  and  asked,  if  he  could  send  a  message  to  Colonel  Thomas,  com 
manding  the  Eighth  Vermont,  which  in  the  meantime  had  crossed  to  the  west 
side  of  the  Bayou,  and  was  about  500  yards  distant,  entirely  unaware  of  the 
grave  situation  of  our  fleet. 

Sergeant  Howard  volunteered  to  carry  the  message,  and  received  this  from 
the  naval  officer :  "  Run,  for  God's  sake,  and  tell  Colonel  Thomas  that  if  he  doesn't 
take  those  rifle-pits  in  five  minutes,  the  Calhoun  is  lost.  She  is  hard  aground, 
Buchanan  is  killed,  the  men  are  driven  from  the  guns  and  the  enemy  are  pre 
paring  to  board  her." 


ESCAPED  UNHURT" 


—  132  — 


Discarding  all  equipments,  Howard  was  put  ashore  from  a  small  boat  and  ran 
for  his  life,  drawing  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy  the  moment  he  mounted  the 
bank,  but  fortunately  escaped  unhurt,  and  delivered  his  message.  The  regiment 
was  already  in  line  of  battle,  and  a  moment  later  was  swooping  down  on  the 
doomed  rifle-pits  like  a  whirlwind. 

The  force  in  the  pits  was  so  busy  trying  to  capture  the  Calhoun,  that  they 
neglected  to  watch  their  flank  and  rear,  and  before  they  knew  what  had  hap 
pened,  as  one  of  the  Union  men  expressed  it,  "a  regiment  of  Yankees  jumped  square 
on  top  of  them."  The  pits  were  taken  in  a  moment,  the  Calhoun  was  saved, 
.and  was  soon  afloat,  roaring  her  defiance. 

Sergeant  Howard  received  his  commission  as  second  lieutenant,  immediately, 
and  the  medal  which  was  awarded  him  later  was  accompanied  by  this  flattering 
notice  from  the  authorities:  ''To  Captain  S.  E.  Howard,  for  most  distinguished 
gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Bayou  Teche,  La.,  January  14,  1863." 


FORT  HUGER  TAKEN  BY  BOLD  AND  ALMOST 
RECKLESS  BRAVERY 


HAZARD    STEVENS, 

Captain,  and  A.  A.  (i.,  V .  S.  Vols. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet  Brig-Gen.,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  June  9, 1842. 


ON  THE  19th  of  April,  1863,  the  en 
emy  appeared  in  heavy  force  up 
on  the  line  of  the  Nansemond  River, 
Va.,  planting  batteries  at  a  number 
of  points,  threatening  to  force  a  pas 
sage,  and  compelling  a  few  unarmored 
gun-boats  which  assisted  in  the  de 
fense,  improvised  from  ferry-boats  and 
the  like,  to  shift  their  position  to  avoid 
destruction.  Some  five  miles  below  the 
towrn  the  river  was  narrowed  by  a 
salient  point  on  the  opposite,  or  the 
enemy's  side,  known  as  Hill's  Point. 
Here  was  an  old  earthwork  -  -  Fort 
Huger  —  erected  by  the  Confederates 
during  the  first  year  of  the  war.  They 
occupied  this  with  a  battery  of  five 
guns,  and  all  efforts  to  dislodge,  or 
silence  them  by  the  fire  of  the  gun 
boats  and  artillery  from  the  opposite 
bank  proved  abortive.  One  gun-boat 


—  133  — 

was  almost  destroyed,  being  struck  over  a  hundred  times  by  shot  and  shell,  and  the 
others  were  repulsed.  Five  small  gun-boats  above  the  fort  were  cut  off  from 
escape  by  its  fire,  and  their  destruction  became  a  question  of  only  a  few  days, 
or  even  hours. 

Such  was   the   state   of  affairs  when  General  Getty,   Captain  Hazard  Stevens, 


"STRUGGLED  ASHORE  WAIST  DEEP  IN   THE  WATER" 


and  Lieutenant  R.  H.  Lamson  of  the  Navy,  who  commanded  the  gun-boats,  rode 
to   that  part  of  the  line  opposite  Fort  Huger  to  observe  it  more  closely. 

Captain  Stevens  and  Lieutenant  Lamson  climbed  a  tree  near  by  to  obtain  a 
better  view,  but  the  more  closely  it  was  scanned,  the  more  formidable  and  un 
approachable  the  fort  appeared.  Finally,  Captain  Stevens  declared,  that  the 
only  wray  to  silence  the  fort  was  to  cross  the  river  and  take  it.  Lieutenant 
Lamson  responded,  that  he  would  furnish  the  boats,  if  General  Getty  would  fur 
nish  the  troops,  whereupon  the  gallant  fellows  hastened  to  lay  the  suggestion 
before  the  general. 


—  134  — 

He  adopted  it  at  once.  As  rapidly  as  possible  a  detachment  of  270  men  was 
embarked  on  one  of  the  gun-boats,  at  a  landing  some  two  miles  above  the  fort. 
General  Getty  went  aboard  and  accompanied  the  expedition  in  person.  A  can 
vas  screen  was  drawn  up  all  around  the  deck,  effectually  concealing  the  troops. 

The  boat  steamed  rapidly  down  the  stream,  followed  by  the  other  gun-boats, 
all  firing  their  guns  and  blowing  their  w7histles.  The  enemy,  observing  the 
leader,  and  supposing  that  she  was  about  to  try  to  run  past  the  battery,  shotted 
guns  until  she  should  come  abreast,  and  within  fifty  yards  of  the  fort  as  the 
channel  ran,  all  ready  to  blow  her  out  of  the  water. 

Just  above  the  work,  the  vessel  was  run  into  the  bank,  but.  glancing  on  a 
pile,  she  struck  some  forty  or  fifty  feet  from  the  shore.  At  this  juncture.  Cap 
tain  Stevens  leaped  off  the  deck  of  the  vessel,  calling  upon  the  troops  to  followr 
him,  and  struggled  ashore,  waist  deep  in  mud  and  wrater.  He  was  immediately 
followed  by  the  troops.  They  waded  in,  climbed  the  steep  bank,  made  for  the 
fort,  and  stormed  it  on  the  run,  though  the  enemy  opened  a  hot  fire  of  musketry, 
and  reversed  and  fired  one  of  their  guns  on  the  attacking  party. 

The  capture  of  five  guns,  nine  officers,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  men,  the 
rescue  of  five  gun-boats,  and  the  occupation  of  a  point  of  vital  importance,  were 
the  results  of  this  achievement,  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  the  war,  accomplished, 
too,  with  a  loss  of  only  four  killed  and  ten  wounded. 


—  137  — 


LOVILO  H.  HOLMES. 

Sergt.  Co.  H,  2nd  Minnesota 

Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 

Born  in  Catharangus  Co.,  N.  Y., 

Oct.  10th,  1830. 


BYRON  E.  PAY. 

Private,  Co.  H,  2nd  Minn. 

Infantry. 

Born  in  I.,e  Roy  Township,  Jef 
ferson  Co.  N.  Y.,  Oct.  2lst, 
1844. 


MILTON  HANNA. 

«Jorp.  Co.  H,  2nd  Minn. 

Infantry. 

Born  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Oct  21st.  1844. 


THE  "D--D  YANKS"  DIDN'T  BEG  FOR  MERCY. 


A  T  NOLENSVILLE,  TENN.,  on  the  15th  of  February,  1863,  occurred  an  incident,  in 
**  which  a  small  body  of  Union  men  had  an  opportunity  to  call  into  play  all  their 
energies  and  determination  against  a  party  of  the  enemy,  more  than  seven  times 
their  number.  This  little  squad  was  composed  of  sixteen  men,  of  which  eight  re 
ceived  the  Medal  of  Honor  after  the  war.  These  eight  are  Joseph  Burger,  William 
A.  Clark,  James  Flannigan,  Milton  Hanna,  Lovilo  H.  Holmes,  Byron  E.  Pay,  John 
Vale  and  Samuel  Wright,  members  of  the  Second  Minnesota  Infantry.  Corporal 
Milton  Hanna,  one  of  the  members  of  this  little  squad,  tells  the  story  of  the  exploit : 

"On  Sunday  morning,  February  15th,  1863,  after  inspection  and  before  breaking 
ranks,  we  were  ordered  to  report  at  regimental  headquarters.  Here  we  found  Co.  C 
of  the  Ninth  Ohio,  commanded  by  the  second  lieutenant,  awaiting  us,  with  First 
Lieutenant  H.  R.  Couse,  of  Co.  C,  of  the  Second  Minnesota,  who,  being  the  ranking 
officer,  had  command  of  both  companies. 

"  We  received  orders  to  go  to  the  front  to  forage  for  mules,  and  started  with  ten 
teams.  We  marched  south  along  the  turnpike  about  three  miles  from  camp,  on  a 
cross-road  known  as  Concord  Church  Road.  Here  a  colored  man  informed  us  that 
just  over  the  hill,  about  a  half  mile  away,  near  where  the  turnpike  crossed  over,  the 
Sixth  Alabama  Cavalry,  500  strong,  had  camped  the  night  before.  After  satisfying 
ourselves  that  this  was  true,  we  turned  to  the  left  on  the  mud  road,  and  went  a  mile 
east  to  a  farmhouse. 


—  138  — 

"  At  this  point  Sergeant  Holmes  received  orders  from  Lieutenant  Couse,  to  take 
fourteen  men  and  four  wagons,  and  go  in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  the  foot  of 
a  hill  near  where  the  turnpike  crossed  over,  and  where  the  enemy  was  supposed  to 
be,  while  he  with  the  rest  of  the  company  should  keep  on  east  about  three  miles  to 
another  farmhouse,  to  load  the  other  six  wagons.  We  could  not  understand  why 
we  were  separated,  as  there  was  more  forage  at  either  place  than  the  ten  wagons 
could  hold. 

"  On  reaching  the  farmhouse,  located  on  a  little  hill,  with  a  small  creek  some 
eight  or  ten  rods  away,  we  came  to  a  lane  leading  from  the  house,  some  500  yards 
in  length,  running  east  and  west,  at  the  head  of  which  were  some  barns,  cribs,  etc., 
arranged  in  the  form  of  a  letter  V.  The  sergeant  at  once  stationed  sentinels  at 
different  points  to  prevent  surprise,  and  John  Vale,  who  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
was  soon  hailed  by  a  colored  man  coming  on  the  run,  and  nearly  out  of  breath, 
yelling  :  '  See  'em  !  See  'em ! ' 

"  The  enemy  were  west  of  the  turnpike,  and  had  passed  into  the  timber  where 
we  were  unable  to  see  them.  They  aimed  to  cut  us  off  from  our  camp  and  the  other 
foraging  party.  Sergeant  Holmes  ordered  me  to  go  to  the  cross-road  and  see  what 
they  were  doing,  while  he  returned  to  the  cribs  to  prepare  for  defense.  I  placed  my 
self  in  a  cedar  thicket  a  few  rods  from  where  the  enemy  crossed  over  the  turnpike, 
and  could  hear  them  talk  and  laugh  as  the  horses'  hoofs  pattered  over  the  road. 

"  The  captain  of  the  rebel  cavalry  remarked  that  he  would  pick  up  the  squad  of 
fourteen  blue-coats  and  take  them  prisoners,  as  they  would  not  offer  fight,  but  throw 
up  their  hands  and  beg  for  mercy.  He  would  then  send  them  with  a  small  guard, 
over  the  hill  to  the  reserve. 

"  I  returned  at  once  and  reported,  but  the  enemy  had  already  arrived  at  the  farm. 
They  filed  into  the  field  following  the  same  course  we  had  taken,  spreading  out  and 
making  as  large  a  showing  as  possible,  giving  us  a  chance  to  count  them.  They 
numbered  125,  all  mounted. 

"  Holmes  saw  they  were  coming  to  us  first,  and  ordered  us  to  get  under  covei  as 
best  we  could,  and  hold  our  fire  until  he  shot  first. 

" '  We  can  die' ;  said  he,  'but  we'll  never  surrender.' 

"  With  these  orders  we  took  refuge  in  the  buildings.  I  took  shelter  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  barn,  Holmes  with  two  men  in  the  hay-mow,  the  others  in  cribs,  hog 
pens,  and  other  out-buildings  between  the  house  and  barn.  When  the  enemy 
reached  the  head  of  the  lane,  they  put  spurs  to  their  horses,  each  trying  to  be  first 
to  catch  a  live  Yankee.  On  they  came  across  the  creek,  yelling  :  '  Surrender,  you 
damned  Yanks  ! '  Moments  seemed  hours  as  we  sighted  our  rifles,  and  waited  for 
the  signal  gun. 

"  The  advance  was  less  than  two  rods  from  us,  when  three  shots  from  the  hay 
mow  took  down  the  leading  horse,  which  fell  on  its  rider,  and  held  him  down  during 
the  fight,  after  which  he  was  taken  prisoner.  Other  shots  quickly  followed,  killing 


'WE  WERE  HOLDING  OUR  FIRE" 


—140  — 

eight  horses  and  wounding  several  men.  The  others  quickly  dismounted,  and  run 
ning  back,  took  shelter  behind  the  fences.  During  their  confusion  we  had  time  to 
reload  our  guns,  and  as  some  loaded  quicker  than  others,  we  kept  up  a  continuous 
fire  until  the  enemy  were  driven  away. 

"When  the  fight  had  continued  for  some  time,  I  noticed  a  man  sitting  on  his 
horse  in  a  very  dignified  manner,  who,  we  afterwards  learned,  was  the  captain  in 
charge  of  the  command.  He  was  out  of  my  range,  but  I  took  careful  aim  and  fired. 
As  he  did  not  heed  my  salute,  I  gave  him  two  more  charges  of  powder  and  ball. 
Those  familiar  with  the  old  musket  know  what  this  meant  at  my  end  of  the  gun. 
He  had  occasion  to  dismount  and  lead  his  horse  farther  back.  I  yelled  that  I  had  to 
do  something  on  account  of  my  shoulder.  This,  of  course,  was  done  in  jest,  and 
the  other  boys  began  yelling  and  asking  why  they  didn't  come  and  take  the  '  damned 
Yanks;'  if  they  wanted  us. 

"  The  Confederates  finally  withdrew,  and  when  the  smoke  had  cleared  away,  we 
found  two  dead  rebels,  several  wounded,  and  ten  dead  horses.  We  took  three 
prisoners,  and  three  horses  who  broke  from  their  riders  and  came  to  us.  Jim 
Flannigan  was  mounted  on  one  of  the  captured  horses  and  sent  to  camp,  and  Charles 
Krause,  on  another,  was  dispatched  to  the  remainder  of  the  company,  which  was 
nowhere  to  be  seen  at  that  time. 

"We  finished  loading  our  wagons,  and  prepared  to  return  to  camp.  Our  loss  was 
Sergeant  Holmes,  Charles  Liscomb  and  Sam  Louden,  slightly  wounded ;  one  mule 
killed  and  a  wagon-tongue  broken.  We  had  three  good  horses  to  return  to  Uncle 
Sam  for  the  dead  mule." 


THREE  HUNDRED  YANKEES  AGAINST  FOUR 

REGIMENTS. 


ON  THE  advance  to  Chancellorsville  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1863,  part  of  the 
Sixth  New  York  Cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Duncan 
McVicar  was  detailed  to  the  Twelfth  Corps  and  led  the  right  wing  of  the  army, 
crossing  at  Kelly's  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  on  the  29th  and  the  Rapidan  River 
at  Germania  Ford,  reaching  Chancellorsville  in  the  afternoon  of  the  30th,  when 
orders  were  received  from  General  Slocum  to  go  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House  and 
ascertain  the  force  there.  From  prisoners  taken  on  the  advance  Colonel  McVicar 
knew  that  a  large  body  of  Confederate  cavalry  was  in  front  of  us,  but  calling  his 
officers  to  him,  repeated  the  orders  to  them,  and  the  bugle  sounded  "forward." 
Passing  by  a  road  through  the  woods,  they  halted  where  the  crossroad  led  to 
Spottsylvania  Court  House.  A  scouting  party  was  sent  to  that  point  and  a  guard 
sent  to  the  rear.  The  command  dismounted  and  lay  by  the  roadside,  holding  their 
horses'  bridles  and,  exhausted  by  continuous  work,  rested.  In  a  short  time  the  party 


141- 


sent  to  the  Court  House  returned  and  reported  a 
heavy  force  there,  and  just  then  the  rear  guard  was 
fired  on  and  driven  in.  It  was  then  about  dusk;  the 
men  sprang  to  their  feet,  some  mounting,  others 
leading  their  horses  into  an  open  field  in  front  of 
the  road  where  they  formed  in  line.  A  bugle 
sounded  for  a  parley,  when  word  was  sent  for  the 
Sixth  to  surrender,  as  they  were  surrounded  by 
Fitz  Hugh  Lee's  Brigade.  Colonel  Me  Vicar's  response 
was :  "  Draw  sabers  and  cut  your  way  through  to 
our  lines." 

The  bugle  sounded  the  charge,  all  hesitated 
for  they  knew  the  enemy  were  massed  in  the  road 
to  meet  them.  The  first  squadron  was  commanded 
by  Captain  W.  L.  Heermance.  After  a  moment's 
delay  he  said  to  his  first  lieutenant,  George  W. 
Goler  :  "George,  some  one  must  make  the  start,"  and 
gave  the  order :  "By  fours  from  the  right,  forward, 
charge."  They  started  with  a  yell,  Heermance  and 
Goler  leading  the  first  set  of  fours;  Colonel  Me  Vicar  on  the  flank  of  the  leading  column. 
As  they  came  from  the  field  into  the  road  Me  Vicar  was  shot  and  instantly  killed. 
Holer's  horse  was  shot  and  the  rider  fell  with  him.  Heermance  was  in  the  lead  and 
alone  as  they  struck  the  enemy  massed  in  the  road,  who  poured  a  volley  from  their  car 
bines  on  the  advancing  troops.  For  a  moment  he  was  without  assistance,  and  while 
engaged  with  one  of  the  enemy  on  his  right,  another  placed  a  pistol  to  his  side  on 
the  left  and  as  he  wheeled  his  horse  to  give  a  left  cut,  the  man  fired  and  the  ball 


W.  L.  HEERMANCE. 

Captain,  Oth  N.  Y.  Cavalry. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    L,ieutenant-Colonel. 

Born  in  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  33.  1837. 


Chancellorsville,  Va.— About  the  middle  of  April,  1863,  General  Hooker  had  massed  his  troops,  an 
effective  force  of  130,000,  in  camp  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock,  while  General  Lee  with  his  60,000 
remained  on  the  north  side.  On  the  30th  of  April,  Hooker  marched  his  corps  to  the  Wilderness,  around 
Chancellorsville,  where  his  army  encamped,  Lee's  army  being  at  Fredericksburg,  ten  miles  away  on  the 
same  side  of  the  river.  Lee,  however,  knew  nothing  of  Hooker's  movement  until  noon  of  the  30th. 

About  noon  on  the  1st  of  May,  Hooker's  advance  began,  the  march  being  by  three  different  roads. — 
Sickles'  corps  was  held  in  reserve,— to  Banks  Ford,  at  which  point  Hooker  ordered  a  return  to  Chancel 
lorsville. 

On  the  2d,  Hooker  prepared  for  a  defensive  battle.  Lee  sent  "Stonewall"  Jackson  to  the  attack,  he 
driving  Howard  back  to  Hooker's  center.  General  Pleasanton  with  his  cavalry  and  General  Sickles'  corps 
kept  Lee  back,  by  skirmishing  with  Jackson's  rear  guard. 

After  dark  Hooker  directed  Sedgwick  to  march  towards  Chancellorsville,  but  he  was  already  below 
Fredericksburg,  fighting  to  gain  the  road  to  Chancellorsville.  In  the  vicinity  of  Banks  Ford  he  was 
engaged  on  the  3d  with  Lee's  main  army  where  he  fought  until  dark.  He  was  still  contesting  his  ground 
on  the  4th,  when  Hooker  ordered  him  to  retire  across  the  river. 

On  the  3d,  Lee's  army  closed  in  from  left  to  right,  assaulting  the  Union  forces  and  directing  their 
artillery  fire  at  the  Chancellor  House,  Hooker's  headquarters.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Hooker  was 
temporarily  disabled.  The  Union  troops  persistantly  held  their  ground  against  the  repeated  assaults,  and 
after  much  hard  fighting,  Hooker  ordered  them  to  retire  across  the  river,  yielding  the  roads  to  Lee. 

The  Union  loss  was  12,145  and  the  Confederate,  12,463 


—  143  — 

passed  through  his  arm  into  his  stomach,  and  a  blow  on  the  head  knocked  him  from 
his  horse.  As  he  fell  his  men  broke  through  to  where  he  was  and  he  called  on  them 
"to  go  on,  as  he  was  done  for,"  which  they  did,  driving  back  the  Fifth  and  Third 
Virginia  Cavalry,  who  came  up  as  reinforcements.  The  Second  Virginia,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Thomas  Munford,  came  in  from  Todd's  Tavern,  after  the  re 
mainder  of  the  Sixth  had  reached  the  forks  of  the  road  leading  to  the  Union  Army 
at  Chancellorsville  and  took  prisoners  the  wounded  who  had  been  left  behind. 
Colonel  Munford  told  Captain  Heermance  that  the  three  hundred  men  of  the  Sixth 
had  held  Stuart's  Division  of  cavalry,  numbering  four  regiments,  for  six  hours,  pre 
venting  him  from  joining  General  Lee  and  cutting  off  the  Union  Army  line  to  the 
Rapidan,  and  so  materially  changing  Lee's  plan  of  attack  at  Chancellorsville. 
Colonel  Heermance  was  taken  to  Richmond  and  Libby  Prison,  but  was  soon  ex 
changed.  He  was  in  over  sixty  engagements,  severely  wounded  three  times,  was 
with  Kilpatrick  and  Sheridan  on  their  rides  around  Richmond,  and  with  four  corn- 
companies,  after  the  fight  at  Yellow  Tavern,  charged  down  the  Brooks  Pike  and 
took  his  troopers  inside  the  first  line  of  works  at  Richmond,  they  being  the  first 
Union  troops  to  enter  them. 

Bugler  Wells,  who  afterwards  received  the  Medal  of  Honor  for  the  capture  of  a 
flag  and  its  guard  at  Cedar  Creek,  was  chief  bugler  and  sounded  the  charge  at 
McVicar's  order,  and  was  with  him  when  he  fell. 


AN  EXTENDED  HAIR  CUT. 


/CORPORAL  STEPHEN  O'NEILL  tells  an  amusing  story 
^-^  in  connection  with  the  incident  at  Chancellors 
ville,  which  earned  for  him  his  Medal  of  Honor.  He 
says  : 

"Our  regiment,  the  Seventh  U.  S.  Infantry,  of 
which  I  was  a  corporal,  on  the  night  of  April  30th, 
camped  on  a  highway  near  Chancellorsville,  Va.  The 
enemy  was  in  front  of  us ;  we  could  hear  the  bands 
playing.  Our  pickets  were  sent  out  at  once  and  pio 
neers  ordered  to  chop  down  all  the  trees,  in  order  to 
obstruct  a  possible  attack  from  the  enemy.  By  day 
light  we  were  all  on  the  alert,  waiting  for  the  next 
command.  I  sat  down  to  get  my  hair  cut.  The 

barber  was  about  half  done  when  the  assembly  sounded,  and  we  had  to  fall  in. 
Then  came  the  order  to  '  double  quick '  to  meet  the  enemy.  Line  of  battle  was 
formed  on  a  clearing  off  the  road.  We  soon  met  the  enemy  and  were  but  a  short 


STEPHEN  O'NEILL, 

Corporal  Co.  E,  Tth  U.  S.  Inf. 

Born  in  St.  John,  P.  Q.,  Canada, 


—  144  — 


time  engaged,  when  the  color-bearer  who  carried  the  national  flag  was  mortally 
wounded.  I  was  close  at  his  side  when  the  poor  fellow  staggered  and  dropped. 
Stepping  up  to  wrhere  he  lay,  I  quickly  picked  up  the  colors  and  bore  them  through 
out  the  battle,  leading  our  men  to  victory.  Our  own  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
rather  heavy.  We  were  not  allowed  to  maintain  the  position  which  we  had  gained 
in  the  struggle,  but  were  ordered  to  retreat  to  our  original  position  which  we  had  left 
in  the  morning.  We  had  just  stacked  our  arms,  the  pickets  had  gone  out  again  and 
I  had  just  sat  down  on  the  same  stump  to  have  my  haircut  finished,  when  with  a 
bang !  bang !  bang !  the  rebels  came  down  on  us.  We  ran  for  our  guns  and  com 
menced  firing.  The  enemy  found,  however,  that  there  was  too  much  climbing  over 
the  trees  which  had  been  felled  the  night  before  and  retired  under  our  well  directed 
fire.  We  were  ordered  to  another  position  of  the  line  on  the  next  morning,  May 
2nd,  and  held  it  all  day,  fighting,  resting,  playing  poker,  and  eating  at  intervals. 
At  night  we  retreated  to  our  old  camp  ground  near  Falmouth,  a  sorry  and  disap 
pointed  lot  of  boys.  Then  I  had  the  haircut  completed." 


SOLDIERS    AS   GOOD 
SAMARITANS. 


A  T  CHANCELLORSVILLE,  four  mem- 
*»  bers  of  Company  A,  Sixty-sixth 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Wallace  W. 
Cranston,  Henry  Heller,  Thomas 
Thompson,  and  Elisha  B.  Seaman, 
accomplished  a  deed,  which  won  the 
admiration  of  their  comrades,  the 
gratitude  of  the  enemy,  and  a  Medal 
of  Honor  from  the  Government. 

This  story  is  told  by  Private  Cran 
ston  as  follows  :  "  At  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Twenty- 
third  North  Carolina  Infantry  came 
up  the  plank  road,  and  marched  by 
platoons  to  within  about  seventy-five 
yards  of  our  works.  A  few  charges 
of  grape  and  canister  from  a  Penn 
sylvania  battery,  stationed  with  our 
division  on  the  plank  road,  served  to  stop  their  progress. 

"  In  their  retreat  they  left  a  Confederate  soldier  on  the  road.     The  poor  fellow's 
piteous  cries  for  help  attracted  the  attention  of  the  commanding  general,  who  was 


WALLACE    W.   CRANSTON. 

Private,  Co.  A,  6Gth  Ohio  Vol.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  ;     Captain. 
Born  near  Woodstock,  Ohio,  Nov.  20th,  1839. 


—  145  — 

passing  along  the  lines.  He  asked  for  volunteers  to  go  out  and  bring  him  in.  *  The 
roads  are  full  of  rebels/  said  he, '  but  if  you  go  boldly  down  unarmed,  they  will  know 
that  you  are  after  a  wounded  man  and  will  surely  not  be  so  inhuman  as  to  fire  on 
you  who  are  bringing  relief  to  one  of  their  own  men.' 

"  With  three  of  my  companions,  I  volunteered  for  the  service.  We  laid  off  our 
accoutrements,  and,  with  two  army  blankets  for  stretchers,  marched  to  where  the 
man  lay,  in  plain  view  of  the  enemy.  We  succeeded  in  bringing  him  back  alive, 
and  took  him  to  the  Chancellor  House,  which  was  then  being  used  as  a  field  hospital. 

"  After  we  had  disposed  of  our  wounded  rebel,  we  rejoined  our  regiment,  and 
very  soon  the  battle  opened  in  earnest  all  along  the  line.  It  continued  for  several 
hours  with  the  greatest  fury  until  we  were  driven  in  disorder  from  the  field. 

"  The  Chancellor  House  took  fire  from  the  rebel  shells  during  the  engagement, 
and  burned  to  the  ground,  and  I  suppose  this  poor  rebel  soldier,  with  many  of  our 
own  wounded  must  have  perished  in  the  flames." 


THE  OLD  VERMONT  BRIGADE." 


ENERAL  LEWIS  A.   GRANT  describes  the   efficient  service 
of  the  brigade  under  his  command  in  the  battle  of 
Salem  Heights  or  Banks  Ford,  Va.,  as  follows  : 

"When  General  Hooker  crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and 
proceeded  to  Chancellorsville,  he  left  the  Sixth  Corps,  com 
manded  by  General  Sedgwick,  in  front  of  Fredericksburg, 
which  caused  a  large  force  of  the  Confederate  Army  to  re 
main  upon  the  heights.  My  command  was  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  consisting  of  six 
regiments,  and  was  known  as  the  'Old  Vermont  Brigade.' 

"On  the  morning  of  May  3rd,  having  already  crossed  the 
river,  General  Sedgwick  carried  the  heights  of  Fredericks- 
burg.  The  main  part  of  the  corps  moved  from  the  town  and 
carried  Marye's  Heights.  My  brigade  was  on  the  left  of 
Hazel  run,  outside  of  the  town,  and  in  front  of  the  principal 
heights.  It  moved  to  the  attack  in  two  columns,  scaled 

these  heights,  drove  the  enemy  from  their  position,  and  captured  several  guns  and 
a  number  of  prisoners.  Later  in  the  day,  the  brigade  started  for  Chancellorsville, 
following  the  division  of  General  Brooks.  On  the  heights  near  the  Salem  church, 
General  Brooks  met  a  large  force  of  the  Confederate  Army  coming  from  Chancel 
lorsville,  and  became  heavily  engaged.  The  enemy  were  turning  Brooks'  left,  when 
my  brigade  deployed  on  the  left,  and  held  the  rebels  in  check.  The  position  was 
held  during  the  night.  In  the  morning  it  was  found  that  a  large  Confederate  force 


LEWIS  A.  GRANT. 

Colonel  5th  Vermont  Infantry. 

Highest  Rank  attained  :  Brevet 
Major-General,  u.  s.  v. 

Born  in  Bennington  Co.,  Vt., 
Jan.  17th,  1829. 


—  146- 


"THE  ENEMY  WAS  CHECKED." 


had  passed 
around  our  left, 
and    occupied    the 
ground   between  us  and 
Fredericksburg.      A   change 
of  position  was  necessary,  and, 
during  the  first  part  of  the  day, 
the  Confederate  Army  and  the  Sixth 
Corps  mano3uvred  for  position. 

"A  general  and  concerted  attack  was 
made  by  the  enemy  late  in  the  afternoon. 
Long  lines  of   Infantry  emerged  from  the  woods 
and  bore   directly   down  upon  us,  their  batteries 
successfully  opening  fire  upon  us. 

"  The  position  chosen  for  my  brigade  was  one  of  advantage.  Four  of  the  regi 
ments  occupied  a  swell  of  ground  or  crest,  with  an  open  field  in  front.  The  extreme 
right  regiment  occupied  an  advanced  position  in  support  of  a  battery ;  the  ex 
treme  left  fronted  a  ravine  and  strip  of  woods  and  had  its  left  thrown  back.  As 
the  enemy  advanced  the  right  regiment  and  the  battery  opened  fire  vigorously. 
This  volley  and  the  firing  from  a  strong  skirmish  line  caused  the  enemy  to  oblique 
to  our  left.  This  regiment,  pursuant  to  orders,  abandoned  its  position  when  no 
longer  tenable,  marched  around  the  right  and  rear  of  the  brigade  and  took  position 
on  the  left.  The  Union  forces  in  our  front  were  met  and  scattered  by  the  enemy, 
and  the  main  attack  came  directly  upon  my  brigade.  The  attack  was  gallant  and 
determined.  The  enemy  evidently  supposed  our  lines  to  be  broken  and  came  upon 
us  with  cheers.  Our  men  hugged  the  crest  reserving  their  fire  until  the  Confeder 
ates  were  within  a  few  yards  of  our  line.  One  volley  was  sufficient  to  check  the 
advance.  The  enemy  was  thrown  into  confusion,  and  a  great  number  of  them  were 
slaughtered.  For  a  few  minutes  the  fire  from  our  line  was  rapid  and  continuous, 
then  the  right  of  the  line  charged  down  upon  the  shattered  and  confused  mass  in 
front  of  us  and  captured  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men.  At  this  part  of  the  line 
our  victory  was  complete.  While  engaged  in  gathering  in  our  prisoners,  T  received 


—147— 

imperative  orders  to  withdraw  my  command,  and  place  it  farther  to  the  rear  and 
left.  It  seemed  that  the  Confederate  lines  overlapped  ours,  and  their  right  had 
gained  a  position  on  our  left  flank,  threatening  to  cut  us  off  from  the  river.  The 
movement  was  urgent  and  necessarily  prompt  and  rapid,  and,  in  making  it,  we  were 
obliged  to  abandon  most  of  our  prisoners.  Nevertheless  we  succeeded  in  taking 
with  us  about  four  hundred,  including  several  officers  of  rank. 

"  Our  new  position,  covering  the  retreat,  was  taken  and  held.  Darkness  came  on, 
and  the  Sixth  Corps  began  recrossing  the  river  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  constructed  for 
that  purpose  near  Bank's  Ford.  The  crossing  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  night. 
During  all  this  time,  my  brigade  held  the  front  with  its  picket  lines  extending  from 
the  river  on  our  left,  around  to  the  river  on  our  right.  After  all  the  rest  of  the 
corps  had  crossed,  those  of  my  brigade,  not  on  the  picket  line  went  over.  Then  the 
picket  line  was  gradually  called  in,  and  the  greater  part  of  it  crossed  in  boats  after 
the  southern  end  of  the  bridge  had  been  cut  loose  and  had  floated  down  the  river 
around  to  the  northern  shore. 

"  It  has  been,  I  think,  generally  admitted,  that,  had  not  the  Vermont  Brigade 
checked  and  broken  the  enemy's  line,  and  steadfastly  held  the  front  that  night,  the 
Sixth  Corps  would  have  found  it  difficult,  if  not  impossible  to  cross  the  river.  We 
were  attacked  by  a  superior  force,  flushed  with  apparent  victory  at  Chancellorsville, 
which  overlapped  and  flanked  us  and  threatened  our  line  of  retreat. 

"  This  was  the  first  engagement  in  which  I  had  command  of  the  brigade,  having 
assumed  command,  as  the  ranking  colonel,  only  two  and  one-half  months  before." 


SCOUTS'  PERILOUS  PLIGHT. 


E  Seventy-fourth  New  York  Infantry,  Fifth 
"Excelsior,"  distinguished  itself  at  Williams- 
burg,  where  it  fought  in  an  abatis  of  felled  timber, 
holding  its  position  against  the  main  force  of  the 
enemy.  Its  conduct  at  Chancellorsville  was 
equally  notable.  A  service  performed  by  four  of 
its  members  at  the  latter  battle  is  described  by 
Sergeant  Gotlieb  Luty,  as  follows  : 

"On  the  afternoon  of  May  3rd,  when  the  Elev 
enth  Corps  was  driven  back,  General  Hooker 
ordered  the  Second  Division,  Third  Corps,  to  take 
its  place.  We  advanced  to  the  position  about  dark. 

"While  lying  there  we  heard  firing  in  front,  and  General  Berry,  supposing  that 
some  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  were  still  in  advance,  asked  Colonel  Louisberry,  of  the 


GOTLIEB  LUTY. 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  29th  N.  Y.  Inf. 
Born  in  Berne,  Switzerland,  Sept.  74th,  1842. 


-148- 


Seventy-fourth  New  York,  if  he  had  one  or  two  men  who  would  volunteer  to  find 
out  if  anyone  were  there,  and  to  observe  the  enemy's  position.  Four  of  Company  A, 
Felix  Brannigan,  Joseph  Gion,  Sergeant-Major  Eugene  P.  Jaccbson  and  myself 
volunteered  to  go. 

"We  divided  into  two  squads,  Brannigan  and  I  going  together,  the  others  taking 
a  different  direction.  We  had  advanced  about  fifty  yards  beyond  the  outposts,  and 
were  close  to  the  plank  road,  when  we  heard  horses  coming  down. 

"We  concluded  to  hide  and  await  developments. 

"A  party  of  horsemen  rode  to  within  fifteen  yards  of  us  and  we  discovered  by 
listening  to  their  conversation  that  it  was  a  body  of  rebels.  Suddenly  the  firing 
commenced  from  all  sides  at  once.  There  was  only  one  round,  and  just  as  the  firing 
ceased,  we  heard  them  say  that  '  the  General '  was  shot.  The  reconnoitering  party 
consisted  of  General  Jackson  and  staff. 

"After  the  Confederates  withdrew,  we  got  up,  and  concluded  to  go  back  to  our 
lines,  but  lost  our  way  and  got  among  the  rebels.  They  were  terribly  excited  about 
General  Jackson,  and  in  the  confusion  we  quietly  withdrew. 

"We  reached  our  lines  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Here  we  heard  that 
General  Berry  had  followed  us  and  been  mortally  wounded.  Before  his  death  he 
requested,  that  if  any  of  the  scouts  should  get  back,  they  should  be  rewarded  for 
their  services. 


EVEN  THE   ENEMY   CHEERED. 


"Ax  SALEM  HEIGHTS  (or  Bank's  Ford),  Va.,  the 
**  Ninety-eighth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  to 
which  I  belonged,  were  forced  back  from  an  ad 
vanced  position.  We  had  to  leave  some  of  our 
wounded  men  between  the  lines.  Among  them 
was  Private  Charles  Smith,  not  only  a  comrade  but 
also  a  dear  friend  of  mine.  I  stepped  up  to  Captain 
J.  W.  Beemish,  of  my  company  :  '  If  you'll  give 
me  permission,  Captain,'  I  said,  '  I'll  try  to  save 
Charlie.'  Permission  was  granted.  On  a  dead  run 
and  under  heavy  fire,  I  advanced  250  yards,  reached 
my  friend,  took  him  on  my  shoulders  and  brought 
him  safely  within  our  lines.  A  number  of  rebel 
soldiers,  perhaps  twenty,  who  witnessed  the  incident 
from  a  position  behind  the  fence,  cheered  as  they  observed  me  escape  their  fire  with 
my  burden  and  gain  the  lines  of  my  regiment.  Our  own  men  returned  the  cheer." 

This  is  Corporal  Peter  McAdams'  story.     It  furnishes  a  noble  example  of  true 
friendship  and  soldierly  virtue  which  the  Government  itself  felt  bound  to  honor. 


PETER  McADAMS. 

Corporal,  Co.  A,  gSth  Penn.  Vol.  Inf. 
Born  in  Armagh  Co.,  Ireland,  Oct.  8th,  1837. 


—  149  — 


GALLANT  SERVICE   AT  CHAN- 
CELLORSVILLE. 


ST.  CLAIR  A.  MULHOLLAND. 

Major,  HCth  Penn.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Brevet  Maj.-Gen. 

Born  at  I^isbon,  Ireland,  April  1,  1839. 


T~\URING  the  battle  of  May  4th,  1863,  at  Chan- 
*-^     cellorsville,  the  Confederates  immediately 
opposed  to  that  part  of  the  line  of  battle  occu- 
piedby  the  Second  Corps,  tried  to  burn  the  abatis  and 
log  revetment  behind   which   the   Union    forces  were 
fighting.     A  high  wind  was  blowing  at  the  time  and  the 
danger  was  great.      Repeatedly  had  General   Hancock 
ordered  that  the  flames  should   be   extinguished,  and 
each  time  an  effort  had  been  made  to  accomplish  the  de 
sired  result,  but  the  fire  of  the  Confederate  sharpshooters 
was  too  deadly. 

At  last,  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  result  of  the  day's  work  depended  upon 
putting  out  the  fires,  General  Hancock  asked  Major  St.  Clair  A.  Mulholland,  of  the 
One  hundred  and  sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  to  take  command  of  the  picket 
line  and  to  extinguish  the  flames.  The  work  had  to  be  done  under  heavy  fire  and  in 
full  view  of  the  enemy,  but  Major  Mulholland  formed  squads  of  men  quickly  and 
assigning  each  squad  to  a  section  of  the  burning  abatis,  made  a  series  of  attacks. 
The  enemy,  seeming,  to  comprehend  the  meaning  of  these  efforts,  at  once  redoubled 
their  firing  apparently,  because  the  volleys  were  concentrated  upon  each  squad  in 
turn  so  that  the  brave  Pennsylvania  tugged  and  struggled  in  the  midst  and  under  a 
perfect  torrent  of  bullets.  They  succeeded,  however,  in  beating  down  the  flaming 
logs  and  at  last  conquered  the  scorching  enemy,  completely  disposing  of  the  danger 
from  such  a  source.  It  was  work  quickly  accomplished  and  with  but  very  little 
injury  to  the  men  engaged. 

Later  on,  the  same  day,  Major  Mulholland  scored  another  no  less  brilliant 
achievement.  In  order  to  withdraw  the  Union  Army  successfully  from  the  field  of 
Chancellorsville,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  sacrifice  some  officers  and  men.  Gen 
eral  Hancock  requested  Major  Mulholland  to  remain  in  command  of  the  picket  line, 
keep  up  a  continuous  fire  and  remain  fighting  all  night  if  necessary,  or  until  the  Union 
forces  had  fallen  back  and  safely  recrossed  the  river.  The  major  willingly  assented, 
fully  realizing  that  the  execution  of  the  task  meant  almost  certain  capture  by  the 
enemy.  Not  only  that,  but  he  held  the  enemy  in  check  on  the  picket  line,  until 
seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  when,  the  entire  army  being  safe  over  the 
Rappahannock,  he  was  notified  to  abandon  the  line.  In  doing  so  he  succeeded  in 
drawing  back  nearly  all  of  the  pickets,  getting  them  safely  over  the  river.  Major 
Mulholland  fortunately  was  not  captured  by  the  enemy,  though  he  was  among  the 
last  to  cross  the  stream. 


—  150  — 


THE  COLONEL  CARRIED  THE  STANDARD. 


A   LEXANDER     SHALER     Was    Colonel    of 

"  the  Sixty-fifth  New  York  Volun 
teer  Infantry,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1863,  commanded  the  First  Brigade, 
Third  Division,  Sixth  Corps,  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  While  General  Hooker 
was  engaging  the  enemy  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  the  Sixth  Corps  was  on  the 
Rappahannock  River  below  Fredericks- 
burg.  On  the  night  of  May  2nd,  under 
orders  from  Hooker  to  move  out  on  the 
plank  road  leading  from  Fredericksburg 
to  Chancellorsville,  and  attack  Lee's 
rear,  the  Sixth  Corps  entered  Freder 
icksburg,  but  was  unable  to  advance 
farther  in  the  darkness  and  fog,  on 
account  of  the  formidable,  defensive 
works  of  the  enemy  on  Marye's  Heights 
back  of  Fredericksburg,  through  which 
the  plank  road  passed. 

At  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
May  3rd,  the  Corps  was  formed  for  an 
assault.  On  the  right  were  two  columns, 
ordered  to  charge  over  the  two  roads  leading  up  to  Marye's  Heights.  All  the  troops 
to  the  left  of  these  columns  were  in  deployed  lines.  The  enemy's  batteries  com 
pletely  enfiladed  the  two  road-ways  which  led  from  the  city,  over  an  open  plain 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide,  up  the  heights.  The  column  on  the  extreme  right 
was  composed  of  the  Sixty-first  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  Colonel  George  C.  Spear, 
and  the  Thirty-first  New  York,  Colonel  Baker,  supported  by  the  Eighty-second 
Pennsylvania,  Colonel  Isaac  Bassett,  and  the  Sixty-seventh  New  York,  Colonel 
Nelson  Cross,  all  formed  in  the  order  named.  Colonel  Shaler  was  ordered  to 
accompany  the  two  last  named  regiments  which  belonged  to  his  brigade. 

Upon  a  given  signal  the  troops  advanced.  As  soon  as  the  head  of  the  right 
column  debouched  from  the  city,  it  received  the  fire  from  the  enemy's  infantry  in 
the  rifle-pits  at  the  base  of  the  hill  and  from  the  batteries,  one  of  which  was  placed 
in  the  middle  of  the  road,  delivering  a  terrific  hail  of  grape  and  canister.  This 
momentarily  checked  the  column's  advance,  but  Colonel  Spear,  with  great  gallantry, 
rallied  and  carried  it  to  a  small  bridge  about  half  way  across  the  open  ground. 
Here  Colonel  Spear  fell  at  the  head  of  his  column,  mortally  wounded,  and  his  two 


ALEXANDER  SHALER. 

Colonel,  65th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:     Brevet  Major-General. 
Born  at  Haddam,  Conn.,  March  19th,  1827. 


—  151  — 

regiments  were  practically  dissolved.  The  demoralization  which  ensued,  greatly 
imperiled  the  success  of  the  movement  at  that  point,  as  the  surging  column  was 
threatened  with  destruction  from  the  severe  h're  of  the  infantry  and  artillery.  The 
Eighty-second  Pennsylvania,  next  in  the  column,  seemed  unable  to  make  any  head 
way.  Seeing  this,  Colonel  Shaler  caught  up  the  standard  of  the  regiment,  rushed 
forward,  calling  upon  the  two  regiments  of  his  brigade  to  follow  him,  forced  the  pas 
sage,  advanced  up  the  hill  and  captured  two  guns,  one  officer  and  a  few  men  of  the 


COLONEL  SHALER  AT  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

Washington  Battery  of  artillery,  of  New  Orleans,  posted  in  a  redoubt  on  the  right 
of  the  road.  The  other  regiments  of  this  brigade,  soon  after  greeted  him  within  the 
enemy's  works  with  cheers  and  congratulations.  His  men  had  not  expected  to  again 
see  him  alive. 

Colonel  Shaler's  bravery  was  reported  to  President  Lincoln  the  night  of  the  same 
day  by  Doctor  Hosmer,  the  Herald  correspondent  with  the  Sixth  Army  Corps,  who 
witnessed  the  assault  and  started  for  Washington  immediately  thereafter  to  report 
the  success  of  the  Sixth  Corps  in  capturing  all  the  enemy's  works  around  Fred- 
ericksburg.  Colonel  Shaler  was  promptly  made  a  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers, 
and  subsequently  received  the  Congressional  Medal  of  Honor  for  this  act  of  bravery. 


—  152  — 


ON  HORSEBACK  DOWN  A  PRECIPITOUS  BLUFF. 


CHARLES   A.  CLARK. 

lieutenant,  6th  Maine  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Brevet  I,ieutenant-Coloiiel. 

Born  at  Sangerville,  Maine,  Jan.  26th,  1841. 


T^VURING  that  memorable  retreat  across  the 
*-'  Rappahannock,  Lieutenant  Charles  A. 
Clark,  of  the  Sixth  Maine  Infantry,  accom 
plished  a  feat  which  saved  his  regiment  from 
capture  or  annihilation,  at  Brooks'  Ford  on  the 
night  of  May  4th,  1863,  when  the  Sixth  Maine 
was  ordered  to  protect  a  single  pontoon. 
"  General  Sedgwick  was  withdrawing  his  troops 
across  the  Rappahannock,"  says  Adjutant 
Clark;  "and  our  position  was  at  the  extreme 
right,  on  a  bluff.  The  spot  was  important.  A 
battery  of  artillery  stationed  on  this  bluff 
would  command  our  pontoon  bridge.  We  had 
orders  to  hold  the  position  as  long  as  possible, 
and  then,  if  cut  off  from  the  remainder  of  the 
corps,  to  make  our  way  to  the  bridge  if  we 
could.  We  all  understood  this  to  mean  that  a 
desperate  enterprise  was  confided  to  our  hands, 

and  we  were  not  mistaken.  We  were  posted  in  a  belt  of  timber  which  screened  us 
from  the  enemy.  The  corps  was  retired  from  its  center,  which  in  time  left  us 
detached  and  upon  the  right  flank  without  support.  About  11  o'clock  the  enemy 
moved  between  us  and  our  picket  line,  the  pickets  on  our  left,  towards  the  center, 
having  been  withdrawn,  and  our  pickets  were  captured  without  firing  a  shot.  At 
this  time  I  was  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  Hearing  a  confused  noise,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Harris  and  I  rode  to  the  edge  of  the  timber,  and  we  discovered  in  the  moon 
light  the  enemy  forming  its  lines  and  coming  on  to  attack  us.  Riding  back  hastily, 
the  alignment  of  the  regiment  was  somewhat  changed  to  conform  to  the  direction 
from  which  this  attack  was  about  to  be  delivered.  This  was  hardly  done  before  the 
enemy  were  upon  us.  There  was  a  sharp  fight  of  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  and  the 
night  was  filled  with  wild  outcries  and  uproar.  The  result  was  a  complete  repulse. 
We  held  our  position,  but  the  extent  of  our  force  having  been  discovered,  and  it 
being  demonstrated  that  we  were  entirely  cut  off  from  the  remainder  of  the  corps, 
our  situation  was  more  critical  than  ever.  Riding  again  to  the  front  to  see  what 
was  going  on,  I  discovered  that  the  open  space  in  front  of  us  was  filled  with 
augmented  forces  whose  lines  were  drawn  around  us,  and  that  an  immediate 
renewal  of  hostilities  was  to  be  anticipated.  Sewall,  of  Company  A,  just  then 
captured  a  Confederate  officer  who  was  attempting  to  reconnoiter  our  position.  I 
put  him  in  charge  of  Private  Crockett,  of  Company  A,  and  told  Crockett  to  take 
him  over  the  bluff,  down  to  the  water's  edge,  and  if  he  could  do  so,  to  make  his  way 


—  153  — 

to  the  pontoon  bridge  and  turn  his  prisoner  in  to  any  force  he  might  find  there. 
Crockett  started  away,  but  the  officer  persuaded  him  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
descend  the  bluff,  as  it  was  too  steep,  but  that  to  follow  the  edge  of  the  bluff  down 
towards  the  pontoons  was  much  easier.  Taking  this  line  of  march,  Crockett  in 
two  or  three  minutes  found  himself  in  the  Confederate  lines  which  surrounded  us 
and  cut  us  off  from  the  bridge.  The  tables  were  turned.  He  was  the  prisoner,  and 
his  prisoner  was  now  the  captor. 


"WE  WERE  IN    DEEP  SHADOW  AS  WE   PASSED." 

"Meanwhile,  a  further  examination  showed  the  enemy  in  readiness  to  make  an 
immediate  assault.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harris  in  his  efforts  to  ascertain  the  situ 
ation,  and  if  possible  to  open  communications  with  Colonel  Burnham,  commanding 
the  Light  Division,  had  been  cut  off  from  the  regiment  by  the  cordon  which  was  drawn 
around  us.  I  tried  to  explain  the  situation  to  the  senior  captain,  and  to  have  him 
take  command  and  withdraw  the  regiment.  He  naturally  hesitated,  thinking  the 
responsibility  very  great,  and  that  Colonel  Harris  might  reappear  at  any  moment. 
There  was  no  time  to  be  lost.  I  rode  along  the  line,  cautioned  the  men  to  maintain 


—  154  — 

perfect  silence  and  not  to  rattle  their  canteens  or  accoutrements,  then  left-facing 
the  regiment  I  led  them  over  the  bluff.  It  was  a  sheer  descent  of  fifty  to  sixty  feet. 
I  started  over  on  horse-back.  When  part  way  down,  my  horse  lost  his  footing,  and 
I  found  myself  falling  with  him  through  the  air.  I  caught  in  the  branches  of  a  tree 
as  we  descended,  slid  down  the  tree,  and  on  foot  made  my  way  to  the  base  of  the 
bluff,  with  the  other  men  of  the  regiment.  I  expected  to  find  a  horse  with  a  broken 
neck,  but  old  "Jim"  stood  there  waiting  for  me,  apparently  a  good  deal  dazed  and 
confused,  but  still  ready  for  faithful  service,  although  strained  and  sore  for  days 
afterwards.  The  men  came  on  over  the  bluff  helter  skelter,  but  as  silent  as  possible. 
Directly  over  our  heads,  and  a  few  rods  down  the  river  towards  the  bridge,  was  the 
Confederate  force  into  which  Crockett  had  been  marched  by  his  wily  prisoner,  and 
which  was  waiting  to  assault  us  and  insure  our  capture.  Fortunately,  we  were  in 
deep  shadow  as  we  passed  under  the  bluff  along  the  water's  edge.  When  directly 
under  the  enemy,  who  reached  to  the  edge  of  the  bluff  above  us,  some  of  our  men 
became  noisy.  Just  at  this  time  the  enemy  again  advanced  upon  our  now  aband 
oned  position,  and  in  the  uproar  which  ensued  we  passed  down  the  river  undis 
covered,  and  made  our  way  in  perfect  order  to  our  pontoon  bridge.  On  approaching 
this,  masses  of  troops  were  visible  in  the  moonlight.  Whether  Confederate  or  Union 
forces  it  was  impossible  to  tell.  Even  if  Union  forces,  they  might  open  fire  upon  us, 
taking  us  for  the  enemy,  if  we  advanced  without  warning.  Hiding  forward,  it  was 
a  great  relief  to  find  blue  uniforms  and  the  stars  and  stripes.  Giving  these  forces 
the  caution  that  the  Sixth  Maine  Infantry  was  coming  in,  we  joined  the  rear  of 
the  Sixth  Corps,  after  it  was  supposed  that  every  man  of  us  was  captured  or  disabled 
in  battle.  When  I  found  Colonel  Burnham  and  told  him  that  the  old  regiment  had 
come  in  all  right,  he  cried  like  a  child.  We  passed  over  the  bridge  with  the  rear 
guard,  and  got  across  just  in  time,  for  as  we  went  over  the  enemy  opened  fire  with 
a  battery  from  the  bluffs  above  us.  Not  having  the  range  accurately,  the  shelling 
did  little  harm,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  reached  the  left  bank  of  the  Ilappahannock 
intact." 


—  155 


"THAT'S   THE  LAST  YOU'LL  SEE   OF  SACRISTE." 


LOUIS  J.  SACRISTE, 

1st  I,ieut.,  Co.  D,  116th  Penn.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Brevet  Major. 

Born  in  Delaware,  June  15th,  1843. 


'T  WAS  a  second  lieutenant  commanding  Co.  D,  One 
*     hundred  and  sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 
Meagher's    Irish    Brigade,    Hancock's   First    Division, 
Second  Corps,"  Lieutenant  Louis  J.  Sacriste  relates  : 

"  At  Chancellorsville,  Saturday  night,  May  2nd,  1863, 
our  brigade  deployed  near  Scotts  Mills  and  when  General 
'  Stonewall '  Jackson  charged  the  Eleventh  Corps  under 
Howard,  we  had  orders  to  prevent  a  possible  stampede, 
but  met  with  little  success.  Early  the  next  morning 
we  received  orders  to  move  to  the  front.  As  we  neared 
the  Chancellor  House,  and  before  we  formed  in  line 
of  battle,  the  enemy's  shells  killed  a  number  of  the 
brigade,  because,  for  some  reason,  it  countermarched 
while  under  fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  We  then 
formed  in  line  of  battle,  my  company  being  on  the 
extreme  left  of  the  brigade,  at  the  edge  of  the  clearing 

around  the  Chancellor  House.  As  we  were  forming,  the  Fifth  Maine  Battery 
under  Catain  Le  Peine  took  up  position  between  our  left  and  the  Chancellor 
House  and  opened  fire  at  once  with  excellent  effect,  which,  however,  was  only 
temporary. 

"General  Stuart  placed  thirty  cannon  in  position  and  opened  upon  us  with 
telling  result.  The  man  on  my  right  was  literally  cut  in  two  by  a  shell;  the  man 
on  my  left,  had  both  legs  cut  off;  the  man  in  my  front  had  a  piece  of  his  skull 
carried  away,  and  the  ground  was  covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded.  Men  and 
horses  of  our  battery  were  mowed  down  with  such  rapidity,  that  in  less  than  an  hour 
every  gun,  with  one  exception,  was  silenced,  and  but  two  noble  fellows,  Corporal 
Charles  Lebrooke  and  Private  John  F.  Chase,  remained  at  their  posts.  Captain 
LePeine  was  mortally  wounded.  After  the  officers  were  disabled,  a  lieutenant 
of  the  regular  army  took  command,  but  in  a  few  minutes  he  too  was  fatally 
wounded. 

"So  accurate  was  the  enemy's  fire,  that  one  of  their  shells  exploded  as  it  struck 
the  mouth  of  one  of  our  cannon,  sending  the  pieces  inside  ;  another  shell  exploded 
one  of  the  ammunition  chests,  the  Chancellor  House  was  set  on  fire,  and  smoke 
and  dust  added  to  the  confusion.  The  line  appeared  to  melt  away  and  the  front  to 
pass  out,  w^hile  soldiers  and  riderless  horses  hurried  down  the  road  to  the  rear  in 
something  like  a  panic. 

"I  was  in  command  of  the  left  company  of  my  regiment  and  brigade,  and,  seeing 
the  enemy's  infantry  advancing,  called  on  my  comrades  to  follow  me.  I  led  them 


—  156  — 


through  the  dust,  smoke,  and  the  fire  of  thirty  cannon,  into  the  face  of  Stuart's 
men,  reached  the  battery,  and  brought  off  the  first  gun  in  triumph  from  the  field. 
My  example  was  followed  by  others  of  my  regiment  and  brigade,  and  every  gun  and 
caisson  was  saved.  A  few  minutes  later  the  enemy  had  possession  of  the  field. 


OF  HIS  second  exploit  at  Auburn,  Va.,  which  is  included  in  the  grounds  of  award 
of  the  Medal  of  Honor,  Lieutenant  Sacriste  writes  : 

"On  the  night  of  the  13th  of  October,  1863,  during  a  retrograde  movement  of  the 
army,  I  was  ordered,  with  twenty-five  picked  men  from  my  regiment  (One  hundred 
and  sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers)  to  report  to  Colonel  James  A.  Beaver, 
commanding  the  picket  line  of  the  First  Division,  Second  Corps.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  while  the  division  and  train  were  crossing  Cedar  Creek,  Swell's 
Corps  attacked  our  line  with  such  determination  that  it  was  about  11  o'clock  A.  M. 
before  we  forced  the  position,  which  we  did  by  turning  our  flank  and  securing  the 
ford  and  road  over  which  our  division  and  train  had  passed.  By  this  movement  the 
entire  line  was  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  army,  our  troops  being  nearly  surrounded, 
and  on  the  same  side  of  the  stream  confronting  Swell's  Corps.  Colonel  Beaver, 
seeing  the  critical  position  and  danger  of  capture  or  destruction  of  his  entire 
command,  and  perceiving  but  one  avenue  of  escape,  requested  me  to  proceed  along 
the  line,  which  was  heavily  engaged  and  stubbornly  contesting  the  ground,  inform 
the  officers  of  the  situation,  and  direct  them  as  to  the  route  of  march,  which  was  to 
fall  back  slowly  on  the  same  side  of  the  creek  with  the  enemy,  cross  the  stream 
south  of  the  ford,  and  then  inarch  diagonally  across  the  country  to  rejoin  the 
division.  As  we  started  to  obey  the  order  of  Colonel  Beaver,  one  of  my  men 
remarked  to  another  in  my  hearing,  'That's  the  last  you'll  see  of  Sacriste.' 
Colonel  Beaver's  instructions  were  carried  out  to  the  letter.  As  we  were  falling 
back,  however,  I  discovered  that  one  detail  on  the  extreme  right,  commanded  by 
a  lieutenant  of  the  One  hundred  and  fortieth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  had  been 
overlooked  in  my  first  instructions.  A  second  time  I  went  in,  and  succeeded  in 
saving  this  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  line,  the  command  in  the  meantime  being 
hard  pressed,  and  closely  engaged  by  cavalry,  infantry,  and  artillery.  Considering 
all  the  circumstances,  the  escape  of  the  line  was  remarkable,  and  our  action  and 
stubborn  courage  made  us  the  ideal  of  a  rear  guard." 


—  157  — 


THEY  STOOD  BY  THEIR 
GUNS. 


JOHN  F.  CHASE. 

Private,  5th  Maine  Battery. 
Born  in  Chelsea,  Maine,  in  1843. 


SUNDAY  morning,  May  3rd,"  Private 
John  F.  Chase  narrates,  "  my  battery, 
the  Fifth  Maine,  was  ordered  to  take  position 
in  an  apple  orchard  between  the  Chancellor 
House  and  the  woods.  The  sight  which 
presented  itself  to  our  eyes  as  we  came  through 
the  woods  to  our  designated  position  was 
enough  to  make  the  heart  of  the  bravest  man 
falter.  Limbs  and  twigs  of  trees  were  falling 
struck  by  a  storm  of  iron  hail ;  the  very  air 
was  laden  with  these  flying  missiles  of  death 
and  it  seemed  impossible  to  be  in  that  hell  of 
shot  and  shell  and  survive.  Into  that  position 

of  death  and  annihilation  we  were  ordered,  and  obeyed.  Our  battery  was  ordered  to 
strip  for  action,  a  short  prayer  was  offered  and  the  command  given :  '  Mount 
battery,  forward,  gallop,'  and  as  fast  as  the  horses  could  go,  we  galloped  forward. 

"  The  boys  were  singing :  '  I  am  going  home,  to  die  no  more,'  and  in  less  than 
thirty  minutes  half  of  our  number  had  gone  'home.'  Even  before  we  could  get  into 
position  our  horses  and  men  went  down  like  grass  before  the  scythe.  We  had  to 
place  our  guns  by  hand,  and  open  fire  on  the  enemy's  batteries,  which  were 
masked  on  a  wooded  ridge  about  200  yards  in  our  front,  and  on  several  regiments  of 
Confederate  infantry  to  the  right  and  left.  Our  orders  were :  'Fight  your  guns  to 
the  death.'  Our  beloved  Captain,  George  F.  Leppien,  had  his  leg  shattered,  the 
other  officers  were  soon  killed  or  wounded,  and  within  a  short  time  only  two  guns 
out  of  the  six  could  be  worked. 

"General  Hancock  sent  Lieutenant  Kirby,  of  the  First  U.  S.  Battery,  to  take 
charge  of  us.  He  had  just  reached  my  gun,  when  a  shell  exploded,  shattering  his 
hip  and  breaking  his  horse's  leg.  I  shot  the  horse  to  keep  him  from  tramping  on 
the  wounded  officer,  whom  I  asked  whether  I  should  take  him  from  the  field. 
Lieutenant  Kirby  answered :  'No,  not  as  long  as  a  gun  can  be  fired.'  He  was  lying 
on  the  ground  near  the  gun,  bleeding  from  his  wound,  and  liable  to  be  hit  again  at 
any  moment. 

"Only  one  gun  going  now,  and  that  short  handed  !  I  was  number  one  cannoneer 
—my  duty  was  to  sponge  the  gun  and  ram  the  cartridge  home.  Beside  myself, 
there  was  now  left  only  Corporal  Lebrooke.  We  could  have  gone  to  the  rear  and 
carried  honors  with  us,  but  we  had  made  up  our  minds  to  lie  there  on  the  battle 
field  with  our  dead  comrades,  and  fight  the  last  gun  to  the  death.  We  loaded 


—  158  — 


several  times  with  canister,  and  fired  at  the  column  of  infantry  that  was  charging 
up  to  capture  our  guns.  Oh !  how  we  hated  to  see  the  guns  that  we  had  served 
through  many  a  hard  fought  battle,  go  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  At  last  a  rebel 
shell  struck  our  piece,  exploding  in  the  muzzle,  and  battering  it  so  that  we  could 
not  get  another  charge  into  it.  I  stepped  to  the  rear  of  the  gun,  and  reported 
to  Lieutenant  Kirby  that  our  last  gun  was  disabled  and  only  two  of  us  left.  I  also 
asked  him  if  I  could  take  him  off  the  field.  He  replied :  '  No,  not  until  the  guns 
are  taken  off.'  What  a  display  of  courage  in  that  young  officer,  lying  there  with 
his  life's  blood  slowly  ebbing  away  and  putting  duty  before  life. 

"At  this  moment  the  Irish  Brigade  came  charging  in  to  our  support.     Corporal 
Lebrooke  and  I  held  up  the  trail  of  our  gun, 
while  the  men  of  the  One  hundred  and  six 
teenth  Pennsylvania,  belonging  to  the  Irish 
Brigade,  and  led  by  Colonel  St.  Claire  A. 
Mulholland,  hitched  on  with  the  prolong 
rope  and  helped  us  draw  it  off  the  field. 
As  soon  as  I  saw  that  the  guns  were 
safe,  I  returned  to  Lieutenant 
Kirby,  took  him  up  in   my 
arms    and    carried    him 
to  the    rear,    wrhere    I 
put  him  into  an  ambu 
lance  and  started  him 
back  across  the   river. 
I   was    informed    later 
on  that  he  died  before 
reaching    Washington, 
but  before  he  left,  he 
took  the  names  of  my 
self   and   my   comrade, 
saying:     'If  ever   two 
men    have   earned    a 
Medal    of    Honor,   you 
have,    and    you    shall 
have  it." 


PRIVATE  CHASE'S 
experience  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Gettysburg  was 
still  more  exciting  and 
resulted  disastrously 


"A   SHELL  EXPLODED   NEAR   ME. 


—  159  — 

for  the  heroic  soldier,  who  at  that  battle  was  made  a  cripple  for  life.  "  My  battery,'* 
he  says,  "  took  position  on  the  north  side  of  the  Seminary  buildings  on  Seminary 
Hill,  where  we  fought  from  10  o'clock  until  four  on  the  first  day's  battle  at  Gettys 
burg,  July  1st,  losing  nearly  two-thirds  of  our  corps,  and  being  outnumbered  five  to 
one.  We  were  forced  to  fall  back  through  the  town  of  Gettysburg  and  take  position 
on  a  knoll  between  Cemetery  and  Culps  Hills,  which  position  the  battery  held  during 
the  second  and  third  days'  battles.  It  was  the  time  of  the  historic  charges  of 
Early's  Division,  led  by  the  Louisiana  '  Tigers,'  on  the  Union  batteries  on  East 
Cemetery  Hill.  My  battery  was  enfilading  the  charging  column  as  it  dashed  up  the 
hill.  Our  shot,  shrapnel,  and  canister  was  doing  such  terrible  execution  that  the 
Confederates  opened  three  or  four  batteries  on  us,  and  made  the  shot  rattle  around 
us  pretty  lively. 

"One  of  those  shrapnel  shells  exploded  near  me  and  forty-eight  pieces  of  it 
entered  my  body.  My  right  arm  was  shattered  and  my  left  eye  was  put  out.  I  was 
carried  a  short  distance  to  the  rear  as  dead,  and  knew  nothing  more  until  two  days 
after. 

"  When  I  regained  consciousness,  I  was  in  a  wagon  with  a  lot  of  dead  comrades 
being  carted  to  the  trenches  to  be  buried.  I  moaned  and  called  the  attention  of  the 
driver,  who  came  to  my  assistance,  pulled  me  up  from  among  the  dead,  and  gave 
me  a  drink  of  water.  He  said  the  first  words  I  uttered,  after  he  gave  me  the  water, 
were :  '  Did  we  win  the  battle  ? ' 

"  Then  I  was  taken  to  the  First  Army  Corps  Hospital.  It  was  a  farm  owned  by 
Isaac  Lightner,  three  miles  from  Gettysburg,  on  the  Baltimore  Turnpike.  They  laid 
me  down  beside  the  barn,  where  I  waited  three  more  days  before  my  wounds  were 
dressed.  The  surgeon  let  me  lie  there  to  '  finish  dying,'  as  they  said,  while  they 
attended  to  all  the  rest  of  the  wounded.  No  one  thought  that  I  could  live  another 
hour.  I  lay  on  the  barn  floor  several  days,  and  was  then  taken  into  the  house, 
where  I  stopped  for  a  week.  From  there  I  was  removed  to  Seminary  Hospital. 

"After  about  three  weeks  I  was  carried  out  of  the  hospital  to  die  again,  and  was 
told  by  the  head  surgeon  that  I  could  not  live  six  hours,  but  I  did  not  do  him  the 
favor.  I  graduated  with  honors  from  that  Seminary  in  about  three  months,  and 
was  sent  to  West  Philadelphia  Hospital,  where  I  remained  until  I  was  able  to  return 
to  my  home  in  Augusta,  Maine." 


—  160  — 


ON  ERRANDS  OF  MERCY. 


FORRESTER  L.  TAYLOR. 

First  lieutenant  Co.  H,  23rd  N.  J.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet  Major. 
Born  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Oct.  30,  1833. 


' '  T  WAS  detailed  to  the  command  of  Company  H, 
*     Twenty -third  New  Jersey  Infantry,  and  led  it 
at  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,   Va.,  May 
3rd  and  4th,  1863,"  writes  Major  F.  L.  Taylor. 

"  After  the  retreat  was  ordered,  as  I  was  hurry 
ing  down  the  road,  I  came  to  the  prostrate  form  of 
Second  Lieutenant  Wilson  of  my  company,  who 
earnestly  begged  me  to  save  him.  Although  it 
looked  like  suicide,  I  could  not  refuse,  and  stood  by 
him  making  several  unavailing  efforts  to  obtain  aid. 
Finally  three  of  my  men  who  were  hurrying  by,  re 
sponded.  One  of  them  spread  his  blanket  on  the 
ground;  we  lifted  the  lieutenant  on  it,  and,  each 
taking  a  corner,  started  to  the  rear. 

"  A  Union  line  of  battle  was  formed  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  rear,  made  up  of 
men  of  various  regiments,  who  bade  fair  to  hold  their  ground.  Before  we  had 
pursued  our  toilsome  way  over  half  the  distance,  the  line  broke  under  the  fierce 
rebel  attack  but  reformed  about  500  yards  farther  to  the  rear,  and,  facing  the  foe, 
succeeded  in  checking  his  advance. 

"  As  the  line  broke,  I  told  the  wounded  lieutenant  that  our  capture  or  death  was 
now  a  certainty,  and  that  my  duty  did  not  permit  me  to  sacrifice  four  lives  for  the 
bare  chance  of  saving  one,  so  I  ordered  the  men  to  lower  him  to  the  road,  took  his 
watch  and  pocket-book  at  his  request,  and  left  him.  Perceiving,  however,  that  the 
line  of  battle  again  formed,  I  encouraged  my  men  to  make  another  effort  to  save  him. 
Without  a  murmur  the  brave  fellows  turned  back  between  the  fires  of  the  contend 
ing  forces.  We  reached  Wilson  in  safety,  and,  though  tired  out  with  our  exertion  and 
the  heat,  staggered  on  until  arrested  by  shouts.  We  were  so  weary  that  we  were  not 
looking  where  we  were  going,  but  with  dogged  resolution  were  struggling  on,  intent 
only  on  getting  behind  the  line  of  the  brave  fellows  who  were  so  fiercely  battling 
against  the  rebel  advance.  Looking  up  I  found  we  were  directly  in  front  of  a  couple 
of  brass  field-pieces  ready  to  fire.  I  hastly  ordered  my  men  to  spring  into  the  deep 
gully  on  the  right  side  of  the  road,  and  a  charge  of  grape  went  hurling  over  our 
heads.  It  was  a  narrow  escape,  as  the  captain  of  the  battery  afterwards  said,  for  he 
could  not  have  held  his  fire  a  half  minute  longer.  We  scrambled  up  out  of  the  gully, 
and,  before  the  guns  were  reloaded,  passed  in  between  them  and  sank  exhausted  on 
the  ground.  After  a  very  short  rest  we  again  picked  up  our  wounded  officer  and  got 
him  back  to  the  field  hospital. 

"  On  the  way  to  the  rear,  I  was  hailed  by  one  of  my  corporals,  Joel  Wainwright, 


—  161  — 

who  implored  me  to  save  him.  I  told  him  that  my  hands  were  pretty  full  just  then, 
but  that  I  would  return  for  him  if  possible,  and  cautioned  him  not  on  any  account,  to 
move  from  where  he  was.  When  I  returned  for  him,  it  was  growing  dark,  but  I 
had  no  trouble  in  finding  him,  and  soon  had  him  in  the  doctor's  hands. 

"  Shortly  after,  I  heard  that  my  friend,  First  Lieutenant  Charles  Sibley,  of  Com 
pany  A,  had  fallen,  badly  wounded,  at  a  certain  place.  I  went  back  to  my  men  and 
asked  them  to  make  a  third  trip,  to  rescue  Sibley.  They  did  not  refuse,  and,  after 
getting  a  pass  to  go  outside  the  lines  again,  my  brave  fellows  went  on  their  errand 


"THREE  OF   MY   MEN   RESPONDED." 

of  mercy.  But  their  effort  was  in  vain.  Having  reached  the  described  spot  and 
calling  his  name  without  response,  the  rebel  pickets  began  to  fire  on  us,  and  I 
thought  that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor.  After  covering  a  half  dozen 
poor  fellows  with  blankets,  and  giving  a  dozen  or  more  drinks  from  our  canteens, 
ordered  a  return,  which  was  accomplished  without  injury. 

"  How  we  escaped  with  our  lives,  while  saving  Wilson,  I  cannot  tell,  unless  the 
rebels,  seeing  what  we  were  doing,  had  not  the  heart  to  fire  on  us.  The  five  of  us  in 
a  bunch  were  a  tempting  shot,  but  there  is  more  good  heart  shown,  even  on  the 
battle  field,  than  is  generally  believed,  for  the  true  soldier  feels  a  comradeship  even 
with  an  enemy,  whose  conduct  shows  a  spirit  not  less  admirable  than  his  own.  As 
an  evidence  of  this,  the  cap  and  shoulder  straps  of  Lieutenant  Sibley  were  sent  in  to 
us  the  next  morning,  under  a  flag  of  truce  with  a  message  telling  of  his  death  and 
soldier's  burial." 


—  162  — 


STUCK  TO  HIS  COLORS. 


EDWARD  BROWNE,  Jr. 

Corp.,  Co.  G,  62nd  N.  Y.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained :    Captain,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  in  Ireland,  1842. 


/CORPORAL  EDWARD  BROWNE,  JR.,  was  reported  for 
^-^  gallantry  in  action  at  Fredericksburg  and 
Salem  Heights.  In  telling  his  own  experience,  he 
gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  movements  of 
his  regiment,  the  Sixty-second  New  York  Infantry. 
"On  the  morning  of  May  3rd,  General  Hooker 
was  at  Chancellorsville  and  General  Sedgwick,  with 
the  Sixth  Corps,  crossed  to  the  right  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock,  about  three  miles  below  Freder 
icksburg,  and  took  up  his  line  of  march  toward  that 
city.  The  advance,  after  considerable  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  Confederates,  entered  the  city 
just  before  daybreak  and  drove  them  out.  My 
recollection  is  that  the  enemy  found  refuge  behind 
a  stone  wall  at  the  base  of  the  heights  back  of  the 
city.  At  daylight,  six  companies  of  the  Sixty- 
second  were  thrown  in  advance  to  uncover  the  enemy  if  behind  the  wall.  I  was 
with  the  color-guard  at  the  time 

"We  advanced  in  line  of  battle  until  we  came  within  the  rebel  works,  which 
formed  a  circle  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  uncovered  them.  But  we  reached  the 
spot  through  a  murderous  fire  of  small  arms  at  point-blank  range,  opened  upon  our 
front  and  flanks,  and  it  seemed  like  going  to  sure  destruction.  Our  men  were 
literally  mowed  down.  Those  of  us  who  were  not  incapacitated,  sought  the  cover  of 
the  city  as  soon  as  we  could.  The  color-bearer  was  injured  in  the  engagement,  but 
my  comrades  and  I  brought  him  back  with  the  colors. 

"Upon  our  return  to  the  city,  the  remaining  companies  of  the  regiment  were 
brought  up  and  the  regiment  reformed.  The  colors  were  entrusted  to  me.  About 
noon  we  were  in  line  of  battle  for  the  charge,  which  carried  the  stone  wall  and  the 
heights  beyond.  I  was  among  the  first  upon  the  wall  with  the  colors,  and  kept 
them  flying  until  we  reached  the  top  of  the  heights  and  the  enemy  were  routed. 

"In  the  afternoon  we  pressed  forward,  after  having  reformed  our  columns,  to 
Salem  Church  or  Heights,  about  four  miles  to  the  rear  of  Marye's  Heights,  where,  in 
a  belt  of  woods,  our  advance  became  engaged  with  what  we  supposed  to  be  the  rear 
guard  of  the  enemy.  We  afterwards  learned  that  it  was  a  part  of  Lee's  forces  on 
their  return  from  Chancellorsville.  The  Sixty-second  Regiment  was  in  the  second 
line  of  battle,  supporting  a  battery,  with  its  right  resting  on  the  road  from  Freder 
icksburg.  Generals  Newton  and  Wheaton  were  close  by,  mounted. 

"Suddenly  our  boys  came  in  hurried  retreat  from  the  woods,  followed  by  the 
enemy  in  good  form.  I  was  at  that  time  in  front  of  the  line  waving  the  colors, 


—  163  — 


'I   REMAINED  WITH   THE  COLORS." 


when,  on  turning  to  the  right,  I  observed 
a  line  of  the  enemy  emerging  from  a  belt 
of  woods  in  that  direction,  and  called  the 
colonel's  attention  to  it.  At  the  same 
time  I  was  wounded  in  the  side.  The  col 
onel  noticed  that  I  had  been  hit,  and  sug 
gested  my  retirement  to  the  rear.  But 
the  boys  were  coming  across  the  open  field 
between  the  woods  and  our  line,  and  I  re 
mained  with  the  colors  open  so  that  they  might  know  they  had  something  to  rally 
about,  and  to  show  the  enemy  that  we  were  not  in  a  panic.  I  remained  at  my  post 
until  the  boys  had  crossed  the  open  and  were  within  our  lines,  and  the  enemy  had 
been  brought  to  a  halt  by  our  fire.  Then  the  colonel,  C.  B.  Hamilton,  commanded 
me  to  give  up  the  colors  and  get  to  the  hospital. 

"I  transferred  the  colors  to  a  noble  fellow,  who  afterwards  fell  under  them;  and 
after  the  enemy's  line  was  broken  and  they  had  retired  to  the  woods  whence  they 
came,  late  in  the  afternoon,  I  went  to  the  field  hospital.  On  the  following  day  I 
crossed  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  from  a  safe  position,  in  the  stone  house 
which  served  as  a  hospital,  I  saw  the  battle. 

"  I  returned  to  my  regiment  as  soon  as  my  wound  was  healed,  and  was  with  it  in 
all  engagements  up  to  the  fight  before  Washington  in  '64.  I  was  made  sergeant, 
and  a  commission  was  offered  me,  but  I  declined  the  latter  through  lack  of  appecia- 
tion  of  its  worth.  I  was  brevetted  second  and  first  lieutenant  and  captain  in  the 
New  York  Volunteers." 


—  164  — 


SHOOT  HIM1-KILL  HIM! 


WILLIAM  G.  TRACY. 

I,ieut.,  122nd  N.  Y.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Major. 

Born  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  April  7,  1843. 


A  T  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  Lieutenant 
**  William  G.  Tracy  was  for  a  few  months 
an  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Major-General 
Henry  W.  Slocum. 

"  When  the  Eleventh  Corp  was  routed  by  the 
attack  of  '  Stonewall '  Jackson,"  Lieutenant  Tracy 
narrates :  "  I  was  sent  with  an  order  to  bring 
back  our  troops  across  the  plank  road  and  stop 
the  rebel  advance,  then  about  two  miles  distant. 
Riding  forward,  I  struck  the  right  brigade  of 
Slocum's  command,  then  under  heavy  fire,  and, 
informing  the  brigadier,  commanding,  of  my 
order,  turned  to  the  left  and  rear  and  plunged 
into  the  thick  woods  of  the  wilderness  to  find 
General  Williams,  commanding  the  division.  In 
my  haste  and  excitement,  I  soon  lost  my  bearings; 
the  firing  in  my  vicinity  ceased  and  I  was  completely  lost. 

"  Riding  hither  and  thither  wherever  I  could  see  an  opening,  I  finally  came  to  a 
partial  clearing  of  about  fifty  acres,  where  the  trees  had  been  cut  into  cord  wood 
and  piled  up,  leaving  the  stumps  still  standing.  It  was  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  upon 
the  top  of  which  a  piece  of  artillery  was  in  action.  Although  it  seemed  to  me  to  be 
pointed  in  a  rather  singular  direction,  I  breasted  the  hill  in  good  faith,  stopped  my 
horse  about  twenty  feet  from  the  piece  and  was  about  to  enquire  where  General 
Williams  was,  when  suddenly  I  discovered  that  the  gunners  were  rebels. 

"  I  was  completely  taken  by  surprise  ;  my  heart  dropped  to  the  bottom  of  my 
boots.  'Sent  with  an  important  order — lost  in  the  woods  and  captured  ! '  What  a 
tale  for  my  general!  My  first  thought  was  to  escape.  I  hastily  surveyed  my  sur 
roundings.  An  open,  narrow  road  ran  down  the  side  of  the  hill  and  up  another,  the 
valley  thus  formed  being  heavily  wooded.  Upon  the  crest  of  the  opposite  hill  was 
a  blue  line,  which  I  knew  to  be  our  troops. 

"  In  an  instant  my  mind  was  made  up  and  my  heart  seemed  to  come  back  with  a 
thump  to  my  breast.  I  resolved  to  ride  down  that  narrow  road  to  death  or  freedom. 
It  was  entirely  open,  being  commanded  by  our  troops.  I  walked  my  horse  past  the 
piece  of  artillery,  gazing  at  the  rebels  as  unconcernedly  as  I  could.  Although  I  was 
in  uniform  with  shoulder  straps,  my  blouse  was  covered  with  dust,  and  they  did  not 
spring  for  me,  apparently  not  realizing  that  I  was  a  Union  officer.  As  soon  as  I 
passed,  I  struck  into  a  gallop,  not  too  fast  to  attract  attention,  yet  ready  for  a  burst 
of  speed.  In  a  moment  I  passed  another  piece  of  artillery  and  then  came  down  to 
woods,  at  the  edge  of  which  some  horses  were  tied. 


165  — 


"  All  this  time  I  was  making  careful  observations  and  realized  that  in  all  proba 
bility  there  was  a  large  force  of  infantry  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  before  me — as  artillery 
is  never  placed  in  advance  of  infantry — and  the  problem  now  became,  how  to 
reach  the  blue  line  of  friends  on  the  hill.  Thus  far  I  had  proceeded,  apparently 
without  being  recognized. 

"  Suddenly,  just  as  I  reached  the  border  of  the  woods,  some  one  cried  out :  '  Shoot 
him  ! '  and  I  dug  the  spurs  in  and  rode  for  my  life.  And  how  that  brave  horse  did 
cover  the  ground!  Down  we  went  along  the  incline  with  no  sign  of  a  stumble, 
while  I  bent  low  over  my  pommel  and  fairly  held  my  breath. 

"Instantly,  from  both 
sides  of    the 
came  volleys 
musketry, 
while 
all 


road 


of 


"FROM   BOTH  SIDES  CAME  VOLLEYS." 

through  the  woods  the  shouts  resounded :  '  Shoot  him !  Kill  him ! '  and  both 
forces,  aroused  by  the  noise  at  that  point,  opened  a  heavy  fire,  so  that  I  rode  into 
our  line  amid  a  hailstorm  of  bullets.  I  was  hit  once  and  my  right  arm  was 
fractured,  but  I  was  not  thrown  from  my  horse,  which  was  wounded  in  three 
places. 

"  I  afterwards  learned  that  I  had,  in  some  way,  blundered  through  both  lines, 
and  behind  a  brigade  of  the  enemy,  thrown  in  advance  of  their  line,  and  that  I  rode 
through  this  brigade  and  passed  the  headquarters  of  the  rebel  general,  A.  P.  Hill." 


—  166  — 


OUR  GUN  WAS  KEPT  IN  MOTION/ 


T 


AMOS  J.  CUMMINGS. 

ftergeant-Major,  2Cth  N.  J.  Volunteers. 
Horn  at  Conklin,  N.  Y.,  May  15th,  1841. 


across  the  Rappahannock. 


HE  Twenty-sixth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  of 
which  Amos  J.  Cummings  wras  sergeant- 
major,  was  part  of  General  Sedgwick's  Corps, 
which  was  heavily  engaged  in  the  ever  memor 
able  struggles  between  Federal  and  Confeder 
ate  forces  around  Chancellorsville.  The  cul 
mination  of  the  engagements  and  manoeuv- 
rings  came  writh  the  battle  of  Salem  Church  on 
May  4,  1864.  Generals  Early,  Anderson  and  McLaws 
had  left  Lee's  Army  at  Chancellorsville  to  drive 
General  Sedgwick's  troops  into  the  river.  The  con 
flict,  which  followed,  wras  most  obstinate,  and  lasted 
all  day.  Though  largely  outnumbered,  the  North 
erners  bravely  repulsed  each  assault  until  darkness 
fell,  when  they  were  forced  to  yield  to  the  superior 
strength  of  the  enemy,  and  retreated,  in  good  order, 
Up  to  midnight  the  armies  wrestled  for  supremacy. 
Both  sides  displayed  bravery  and  daring,  and  many  were  the  deeds  of  heroism  per 
formed  by  friend  and  foe.  The  Union  soldiers  especially  were  conspicuous  for  their 
gallantry.  Some  incidents  occurred  which  give  one  a  clear  conception  of  the  fierce 
ness  of  the  fighting  and  the  heroism  of  the  fighters.  In  this  connection  Sergeant- 
Major  Cummings,  who  earned  his  medal  on  that  memorable  day,  furnishes  an  in 
spiring  narrative  in  the  following  : 

"At  sundown  on  this  fourth  of  May,  the  Twenty-sixth  New  Jersey,  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  lay  in  line  of  battle  in  a  depression  along  a  ditch  dug  by 
a  farmer  to  drain  his  land.  We  were  supported  by  the  regular  battery  occupying  a 
slight  elevation  in  our  rear.  Our  position  was  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north 
of  Salem  Church. 

"  The  Confederates  massed  and  came  down  on  us  five  lines  deep.    As  they  ad 
vanced  I  could  hear  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  battery  behind  us  giving  his  com 
mands.    He  was  gauging  his  fuses  by  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 
" '  A  second  and  a  half '  he  shouted. 
" '  Blim  !  Blim  ! '  responded  his  guns. 
"  '  A  second  and  a  quarter  ! '  he  cried. 
" '  Blim  !  Blim  !  Blim  ! '  was  the  reply. 
" '  A  full  second  ! '  he  roared. 
f' '  Blim  !  Blim  !  Blim  ! '  answered  his  guns. 
"  '  Three-quarters  of  a  second  ! '  came  next. 
" '  Blim  !  Blim  !  Blim  ! ' 


—  167  — 

"  The  shrieking  of  the  shells  as  they  swept  over  our  heads  was  appalling.  Sud 
denly,  right  in  front,  there  was  a  flash  all  along  the  line.  The  Confederates  were 
within  thirty  yards  of  us  and  had  commenced  firing.  The  rebel  yell  was  still 
heard,  but  the  column  had  lost  its  impetus.  As  the  yell  died  away  our  lieutenant- 
colonel  shouted  :  '  'ten-tion! ' 

"  The  order  was  heard  by  every  man  of  the  regiment.  In  a  second  everybody 
was  on  his  feet.  The  colonel  continued  :  '  Right  about  face  ! ' 

"  The  regiment  obeyed  the  orders  as  if  on  parade. 

"  Then  came,  probably,  the  most  singular  command  ever  heard  on  a  battle-field. 

" '  Regiment,  left  half  wheel ! ' 


"THE  ENEMY  WERE  UPON  US." 

"  The  left  wing  of  the  regiment  on  our  right  had  swung  back,  doing  so  to  take 
advantage  of  the  natural  depression  of  the  field  and  thus  had  left  a  gap  between 
its  left  and  our  right. 

"  Our  colonel  saw  the  opening  and  realized  that  by  left  half  wheeling  he  could 
again  cement  his  line.  Hence  his  singular  command.  But,  when  our  regiment  tried 
to  obey  the  order,  beginning  the  movement  steadily  and  in  perfect  form,  the  result 
was  disastrous.  Suddenly  there  was  a  waver,  then  a  break  and  then  a  rush  for  the 
river. 


—  168  — 

"A  few  brave  men  remained,  but  only  a  moment,  when  they  began  to  swear  and  to 
coolly  walk  after  their  fugitive  comrades  trying  by  shouts  and  curses  to  rally  them. 
A  lieutenant  of  the  battery  confronted  the  demoralized  men.  He  stood  straight  as 
an  arrow  with  drawn  sword.  All  of  his  guns  had  disappeared  but  one.  It  stood 
unmanned,  subject  to  capture.  His  amazement  knew  no  bounds.  Our  men  had 
been  acting  like  veterans  and  were  now  running  over  him  like  frightened  deer. 
His  oaths  were  terrific.  He  called  them  all  the  names  in  the  vocabulary  of  indig 
nation.  There  was  a  score  of  our  regiment,  however,  who  did  not  lose  their  heads. 

"  'Let  us  save  the  gun! '  I  shouted,  at  the  same  time  seizing  it  by  a  wheel.  The 
enemy  were  making  for  the  gap,  but  four  of  my  comrades  were  with  me  around  the 
gun.  On  came  the  Southerners  and  our  little  group  was  increased  by  the  coming  of 
a  few  more  of  our  men. 

"  The  piece  began  to  move  backward  in  answer  to  our  efforts,  but,  suddenly  there 
was  a  change  of  scene. 

"  The  enemy  had  passed  through  the  gap  and  were  upon  us.  They  were  holding 
our  gun  by  the  muzzle  and  then  muskets  were  clubbed,  bayonets  were  used.  If  the 
combatants  had  been  personal  enemies  for  years,  the  cursing  and  reviling  could  not 
have  been  more  bitter.  On  both  sides  the  wounded  fell,  uttering  oaths  and  impre 
cations,  but  without  groans. 

"Enough  of  our  men  had  rallied  to  the  cannon  to  keep  it  moving  until  a 
Vermont  regiment  in  the  woods  on  our  left,  a  regiment  which  had  stood  firm 
through  all,  was  able  to  bring  an  enfilading  fire  to  bear,  when  the  Confederates 
were  quickly  dispersed. 

"The  gun  was  saved,  the  medal  won." 


Painted  by  Robert  Hopkin. 


THE    MONITOR    IN   A   STORM. 


—  171  — 


A' 


TRUE  COMRADESHIP 

T  THE  battle  of  Salem  Heights,  the  Second  Bri 
gade,  Second  Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps, 
made  a  charge  on  Marye's  Heights,  near  Freder- 
icksburg,  when  one  of  the  regiments  was  thrown 
into  confusion,  breaking  away  from  the  line.  This 
caused  a  gap  in  the  charging  columns  and  jeopard 
ized  the  success  of  the  attack,  the  blame  resting 
entirely  with  the  colonel  of  the  regiment.  Repeated 
efforts  to  reform  the  line  failed.  Finally  Lieuten 
ant  Frank  G.  Butterfield,  of  Company  A,  Sixth 
Vermont  Infantry,  was  entrusted  with,  and  assumed 
the  grave  responsibility  of  moving  the  regiment 
without  the  consent  of  the  colonel  commanding, 
bring  it  back  into  action  in  its  proper  place,  in  the 
midst  of  a  fierce  battle,  and  under  a  galling  fire  of 
artillery  and  infantry.  The  officer  in  command  of  the  brigade,  General  L.  A.  Grant, 
thanked  and  commended  the  lieutenant,  and  placed  the  colonel  under  arrest. 

The  day  following,  May  4th,  the  Sixth  Army  Corps  was  under  fire  all  day.  At 
dusk  the  lines  were  shortened  and  upon  a  new  line  being  formed  near  the  river  at 
Banks'  Ford,  General  Grant  made  the  startling  discovery  that  the  Sixth  Vermont 
Infantry  was  missing,  possibly  captured.  Lieutenant  Butterfield  would  not  believe 
that  his  brave  Vermonters  had  been  made  prisoners,  and  General  Grant  sent  him  to 
search  for  the  regiment.  At  last  he  found  his  comrades  in  a  strong  position  several 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  original  line  of  battle.  They  had  repulsed  a  charge 
of  the  enemy,  and,  charging  in  return,  had  been  carried  far  from  the  original 
line  by  their  impetuosity  and  valor.  In  the  meantime,  however,  the  enemy  had 
already  attacked  the  new  line.  Heavy  cannonading  sounded  from  the  rear  of  the 
Vermont  regiment.  Colonel  Barney,  commanding,  was  loath  to  retire,  but,  of 
course,  fell  back  with  his  regiment.  Lieutenant  Butterfield  took  command  of  a 
skirmish  line,  covered  the  retreat,  and  saved  the  regiment  from  destruction. 


FRANK  G.  BUTTERFIELD. 

Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  6th  Vermont  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained :    Brig.-General,  U.  S.  V 

Born  at  Rochingham,  Vt.,  1812. 


AT  Lee's  Mills  a  few  weeks  before  the  incident  above  recorded,  Lieutenant 
Butterfield  was  forced  to  fall  back  over  the  Warwick  Creek  with  his  command  while 
under  a  fearful  fire  from  the  enemy.  He  and  Captain  E.  F.  Reynolds,  of  Company 
F,  Sixth  Vermont  Infantry,  were  the  last  to  retreat.  The  captain  fell,  and  here  it 
was  that  Lieutenant  Butterfield  displayed  true  comradeship.  He  assisted  the 
wounded  officer  across  the  creek,  where  in  midstream  he  fainted.  But  the  lieu 
tenant  would  not  desert  him.  He  held  his  head  up  above  water  until  he  had  reached 
the  other  bank  with  his  load,  only  to  find  that  his  comrade  was  dead. 


—  172  — 


THWARTED  THE  ENEMY'S 
ATTACKS 


NELSON  A.  MILES. 

Colonel,  (list  X.  Y.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Lieut.-Gen.,  U.  S.  A. 

Born  at  Westminster,  Mass.,  Aug.  8,  LS39. 


T    IEUTENANT-GENERAL  NELSON  A.  MILES 
•— '    received  his  Medal  of  Honor  when 
a  colonel  during  the  War  of  the  Rebel 
lion.     The  proud  distinction  was  given 
this  brilliant  American  soldier  for  "  dis 
tinguished  gallantry  while  holding  with 
his  command,  an  advanced  position, 
against  repeated  assaults  by  a  strong  force 
of  the  enemy." 

The  occurrence  took  place  during  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  May  2  and  3, 1863, 
and  is  described  by  General  Miles  himself  in 
the  following : 

"On  Friday,  May  1,  1863,  as  the  Second  Army 
Corps  was  advancing  from  Chancellorsville  to 
ward  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  my  regiment  being  in 
advance,  I  was  ordered  to  move  forward  and  de 
ploy  my  command  as  skirmishers  on  the  right  of 
the  road.  After  advancing  through  the  woods  some  500  yards,  I  came  to  an  open 
held,  where  I  found  the  enemy,  and  also  a  brigade  belonging  to  the  Twelfth  Army 
Corps,  which  was  retreating  double-quick,  without  rear  guard  or  flankers.  Here  I 
was  ordered  to  halt,  and  I  remained  in  this  position  about  half  an  hour,  when  I 
was  informed  by  Lieutenant  Alvord,  of  General  Caldwell's  staff,  that  the  division 
was  falling  back,  and  ordered  me  to  protect  the  rear.  The  enemy  was  then  ad 
vancing  in  column  with  a  very  strong  skirmish  line,  which  was  different  from  any  I 
had  ever  seen,  being  much  stronger  and  in  four  ranks ;  part  filed  to  the  front, 
keeping  up  a  continued  fire.  We  were  also  exposed  to  the  fire  of  their  artillery,  but 
without  much  loss,  we  fell  back  until  I  passed  the  troops  of  the  Third  Corps,  when  I 
reformed  the  line,  and  was  soon  ordered  forward  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  taking 
up  a  new  position  on  the  left  of  the  road,  my  right  connecting  with  the  One  hundred 
and  forty-eighth  Pennsylvania  and  my  left  with  that  of  the  Twenty-second  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteers,  General  Barnes'  Division.  I  was  then  ordered  by  Lieutenant 
Mitchell,  of  General  Hancock's  staff,  to  take  charge  of  the  line  of  skirmishers  in 
front  of  the  entire  division.  During  the  fore  part  of  the  night  I  received  instruc 
tions  from  General  Hancock  that  the  division  was  to  withdraw  to  another  line  some 
distance  to  the  rear,  and  ordered  me  to  establish  my  line  on  the  most  favorable 
ground  in  its  front. 


—  173  — 

"  At  3  A.  M.  of  the  2d,  I  withdrew  the  picket  line  to  the  rear  of  an  abatis,  which 
had  been  formed  during  the  night  by  some  regiments  of  the  division.  Here  I 
remained  during  the  day.  The  force  on  this  line  consisted  of  the  Fifty-seventh 
New  York  Volunteers,  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  B.  Chapman  ;  two  companies  of  the 
Fifty-second  New  York,  four  companies  of  the  Second  Delaware,  and  six  companies 
of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-eighth  Pennsylvania,  together  with  the  Eleventh 
Massachusetts  Volunteers,  Colonel  Blaisdell,  which  was  ordered  there  by  General 
Carr,  for  the  purpose  of  feeling  the  enemy  with  their  sharpshooters. 

"  We  were  constantly  engaged  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  during  the  day,  and 
at  about  3  P.  M.  the  enemy  commenced  massing  his  troops  in  two  columns,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  road,  flanked  by  a  line  of  battle  about  800  yards  in  front  in  the 
woods.  Their  orders  could  be  distinctly  heard.  They  soon  advanced  with  a  tre 
mendous  yell,  and  were  met  with  a  sure  and  deadly  fire  of  one  single  line.  A  very 
sharp  engagement  continued  for  about  half  an  hour  after  which  the  enemy  fell  back 
in  disorder.  Their  charge  was  impetuous  and  determined,  advancing  within  twenty 
yards  of  my  abatis,  but  were  hurled  back  with  fearful  loss,  and  made  no  further 
demonstrations. 

"About  9  A.  M.  of  the  3d  instant,  I  received  a  detachment  of  250  men,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  McCreary,  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth 
Pennsylvania,  as  a  support.  Soon  after,  my  line  was  vigorously  attacked  by  the 
enemy  on  the  left,  and  engaged  the  entire  line.  This  continued  for  about  half  an 
hour,  when  I  deployed  about  one-third  of  my  reserve  on  the  left,  and  was  about  to 
order  up  the  remainder  when  I  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  abdomen,  and  was 
obliged  to  leave  the  field." 

Colonel  Miles'  conduct  througnout  this  campaign  was  highly  commended  by  his 
superior  officers  who  in  their  official  reports  of  this  battle  lavished  their  praise  upon 
the  young  soldier.  After  the  engagement  at  Chancellorsville,  General  John  C.  Cald  • 
well  spoke  of  him  in  the  following  flattering  terms  : 

"  Colonel  Miles,  of  the  Sixty-first  New  York  Volunteers,  was  placed  by  General 
Hancock  in  command  of  the  picket  line  of  the  division,  which  consisted  of  six 
companies  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-eighth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  the  Fifty- 
seventh  New  York,  two  companies  of  the  Second  Delaware,  supported  by  the 
Eleventh  Massachusetts  Volunteers. 

"  With  this  force  Colonel  Miles  skirmished  all  day  long  with  the  enemy,  and  at 
3  P.  M.,  repulsed  with  signal  loss,  a  determined  attack  of  the  enemy,  made  in  two 
columns  on  each  side  of  the  road.  I  do  not  doubt,  that  this  repulse  of  the  enemy, 
which  kept  them  from  our  main  lines,  was  due  principally  to  the  skill  and  gallantry 
of  Colonel  Miles,  who,  with  a  single  line  of  skirmishers,  deployed  at  three  paces, 
repelled  a  determined  attack  of  the  enemy  made  in  column,  a  feat  rarely  paralleled. 
*  *  *  *  I  confess  I  was  somewhat  anxious  for  the  One  hundred  and  forty-eighth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  it  being  a  new  regiment,  and,  never  having  been  exposed 
to  fire.  It  behaved,  however,  throughout  with  the  greatest  coolness,  vying  with 


the  old  troops  in  steadiness.  Colonel  Miles  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the  six  com 
panies  that  were  on  picket,  and  the  other  four  companies  fought  with  the  greatest 
gallantry  under  my  own  eye.  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more  steady  or  better-directed 
tire  than  wTas  theirs  in  the  wToods  on  Sunday.  The  Sixty-first  New  York  Volunteers 
maintained  its  well  earned  reputation  for  steadiness,  bravery,  and  all  good  soldierly 
qualities. 

"I  greatly  regret  to  report  that  Colonel  Miles  wras  severely,  if  not  mortally, 
wounded  on  Sunday  morning  while  handling  the  picket  line  with  masterly  ability. 
I  have  had  occasion  heretofore  to  mention  the  distinguished  conduct  of  Colonel 
Miles  in  every  battle  in  which  the  brigade  has  been  engaged.  His  merits  as  a  mili 
tary  man  seem  to  me  of  the  very  highest  order.  I  know  of  no  terms  of  praise  too 
exaggerated  to  characterize  his  masterly  ability.  If  ever  a  soldier  earned  promotion, 
he  has  done  so.  Providence  should  spare  his  life,  and  I  earnestly  recommend  that  he 
should  be  promoted  and  intrusted  with  a  command  commensurate  with  his  abilities." 


AMONG  THE  MOST  HEROIC  OF  THE  WAR" 


' '  T   REGARD  the   conduct  of  the  soldiers  who 
*     manned  the  transports  as  among  the  most 
heioic  of  the  whole  war." 

Admiral  Porter  in  expressing  this  opinion 
referred  to  the  men  who  manned  the  trans 
ports  Tiger,  John  F.  Cheeseman,  Moderator, 
Henry  Clay,  Anglo-Saxon,  and  Horizon,  which 
ferried  the  Union  troops  across  the  Mississippi. 
This  brilliant  feat  is  described  by  Second 
Lieutenant  James  D.  Vernay,  of  the  Seventy- 
seventh  Illinois  Volunteers,  who  commanded 
the  Horizon,  as  follows  : 

"Some  few  days  before  the  boats  were 
being  prepared  for  the  special  service  of  fer 
rying  the  troops  across  the  Mississippi,  I  over 
heard  Generals  Logan's  and  Grant's  quarter 
masters  talking  about  calling  for  volunteers 

to  man  the  boats.     The  next  morning  I  walked  nine  miles  in  the  rain  and  mud  down 

the  levee  to  general  headquarters,  to  put  my  name  down. 

"  I  met  Colonel  Rawlins,  with  whom  I  had  a  speaking  acquaintance,  and  informed 

him  of  my  intention.     He  encouraged  me  and  said,  that  he  thought  I  would  have  an 


JAMES  D.  VERNAY. 

2d  Lieut..  Co.  B.  7Tth  111.  Vol.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Brevet  Major. 

Born  at  Lacon,  111.,  Dec.  24, 1834. 


—176— 


opportunity  to  go.  I  told  him  that  the  whole  of  Logan's  Division  would  want  to 
volunteer  and  that  I  would  feel  disappointed  if  my  offer  were  not  accepted.  He 
took  a  slip  of  paper  and  wrote  my  name,  rank,  and  regiment,  and  said :  '  There, 
will  that  suit  you  ? '  '  Well,  that's  what  I  came  here  for,'  I  replied. 

"  I  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Horizon,  the  last  one  of  the  six  transports. 
An  hour  before  the  time  set  for  our  boats  to  go  in  under  fire,  I  assembled  our  men 
in  the  cabin.  There  I  gave  them  some  necessary  instructions,  provided  them  with 
pieces  of  strong  cord  to  tie  up  a  wounded  leg  or  arm,  if  such  emergency  should 
arise,  and  impressed  upon  them  the  importance  of  our  service.  They  crowded  about 
me,  some  showing  the  pictures  of  their  loved  ones,  wives,  children,  mothers,  and 
sweethearts,  and  we  finally  bade  each  other  goodbye,  all  hoping  for  a  successful 
ending,  but  everyone  ready  to  die  in  the  performance  of  a  sacred  duty. 

"  We  worked  all  night,  arriving  at  New  Carthage  on  the  following  morning  at 
nine  o'clock.  On  April  23d  General  Grant,  after  a  consultation,  ordered  the  trans 
ports  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  fire.  We  started  at  7  P.  M.  As  we  successfully  passed 
the  last  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  our  cheers  and  hurrahs  echoed  over  the  water  and 
our  joy  was  boundless.  With  our  six  boats,  ragged  and  torn  by  shot  and  shell,  we 
had  ferried  our  troops  across  the  Mississippi,  and  commenced  that  brilliant  cam 
paign,  which  ended  in  the  capture  of  General  Pemberton  and  his  whole  army  at 
Vicksburg." 


AN  AWFUL  BARGE  RIDE 
UNDER  FIRE 

of  the  most  desperate  feats  of  the 
war  was  the  attempt  of  Captain  Wil 
liam  H.  Ward,  of  Company  B,  Forty-seventh 
Ohio  Volunteers,  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  the 
Confederate  batteries  at  Vicksburg,  on  the 
night  of  May  3,  1863.  There  were  three 
barges  loaded  with  stores  for  General  Grant's 
Army,  but  between  them  and  their  destina 
tion  lay  the  enemy's  batteries,  mounting 
more  than  one  hundred  guns,  many  of  them 
of  the  heaviest  calibre.  The  Mississippi  River 
makes  a  double  bend  at  this  point,  like  the 
letter  S,  and  from  the  moment  the  barges 
entered  the  first  bend,  till  they  emerged  on 
the  open  river  below,  they  would  be  under 

the  concentrated  fire  of  the  guns  every  foot  of  the  way,  and  it  seemed  impossible 

that  anyone  could  live  under  such  a  terrible  fire. 


WILLIAM  H.  WARD. 

Captain,  Co.  B.  47th  Ohio  Inf. 
Born  at  Adrian,  Mich.,  Dec.  9,  ]840. 


—  177  — 

The  strength  of  the  position  was  not  unknown  to  Captain  Ward,  for  he  had 
several  times,  from  a  distance  watched  the  batteries  in  action,  when  the  ironclads 
were  attempting  to  run  the  blockade.  What  he  had  seen,  instead  of  deterring  him, 
only  made  him  more  anxious  for  a  closer  acquaintance,  and  wrhen  a  call  was  made 
for  volunteers  to  take  the  barge  down  the  stream,  he  was  the  first  to  offer  himself. 
There  was  no  lack  of  volunteers,  and  where  only  thirty-five  men  were  required,  ten 
times  that  number  were  willing  and  anxious  to  go.  One  man,  Addison  J.  Hodges, 
was  so  eager  to  go,  that  he  actually  offered  a  comrade  a  dollar  to  let  him  go  in 
his  place. 

Previous  expeditions  had  run  the  gauntlet  of  these  batteries  with  more  or  less 
success,  but  always  on  the  darkest  of  nights  and  convoyed  by  armor-clad  gunboats. 
On  this  occasion  a  full  moon  and  a  clear  sky  made  the  night  as  light  as  day,  and 
there  were  no  gunboats  to  shelter  the  barges  from  the  enemy's  fire.  There  was 
only  one  little  tug,  the  George  Sturgis,  to  tow  the  barges,  and  any  accident  to  her 
would  wreck  the  whole  expedition.  This  did  not  discourage  the  gallant  little  band, 
and  the  account  of  the  adventure  is  entertainingly  given  by  Captain  Ward,  as 
follows : 

"We  cast  off  from  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  about  fifteen  miles  above  Vicksburg  at 
ten  o'clock  P.  M,  The  trip  down  the  river  was  uneventful  until  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  \vhen  a  rocket  sent  up  from  one  of  the  Confederate  batteries,  warned  the 
enemy  of  our  approach,  and  we  were  soon  under  a  heavy  fire.  It  was  a  wild  ride 
we  had  from  this  time  on. 

"  Battery  after  battery  opened  on  us  as  we  came  within  range,  until  it  seemed 
that  the  guns  were  being  played  upon  like  the  keys  of  a  piano,  and  to  say  that  the 
rain  of  shot  and  shell  was  terrific  but  faintly  describes  the  situation.  The  scene 
was  indescribably  grand  and  awe-inspiring  as  we  steamed  slowly  past  the  city  amid 
the  roar  of  more  than  a  hundred  guns,  with  their  death-dealing  missiles  whistling 
and  shrieking  over  and  around  us,  and  exploding  on  board,  while  the  patter  of 
bullets  from  the  infantry  resembled  a  fall  of  hail-stones.  The  barges  were  large  and 
unwieldy ;  and  as  we  could  make  only  about  six  miles  an  hour  at  best,  the  enemy's 
gunners  were  able  to  get  our  range  accurately.  We  had  been  struck  many  times 
but  not  seriously  damaged.  The  little  tug  seemed  to  bear  a  charmed  life,  for  we 
passed  several  times  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  heaviest  batteries. 

"  We  had  now  been  under  fire  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  had  reached  a  point 
below  the  city  where  ten  minutes  more  meant  safety.  The  steady  '  puff-puff '  of  the 
little  tug  gave  assurance  that  all  was  .right,  and  we  were  beginning  to  indulge  in 
mental  congratulations  on  the  success  of  the  expedition,  when  a  roar  like  the 
bursting  of  a  volcano,  caused  the  barges  to  rock  as  if  shaken  by  an  earthquake,  and 
in  an  instant  the  air  was  filled  with  burning  coals,  flying  timbers,  and  debris.  A 
plunging  shot  from  a  heavy  gun,  stationed  on  an  eminence  far  in  the  rear,  had  struck 
the  tug  and  penetrated  to  the  furnaces,  where  it  exploded,  blowing  the  boilers  and 
machinery  up  through  the  deck,  and  completely  wrecking  the  vessel.  The  blazing 


—  178  — 

coals  fell  in  a  shower  over  both  barges,  setting  fire  to  the  bales  of  hay  in  hundreds 
of  places  at  once.  The  enemy  sent  up  a  cheer  upon  witnessing  our  misfortune,  and 
for  a  few  minutes  seemingly  redoubled  their  fire.  The  tug  went  down  like  a  plum 
met,  while  the  barges  were  soon  blazing  wrecks,  drifting  with  the  eddying  current 
of  the  river.  No  recourse  remained  but  surrender,  and  the  waving  of  a  handker 
chief  from  a  soldier's  bayonet  caused  the  firing  to  cease.  The  fiames  compelled  the 
survivors  to  seek  safety  by  taking  to  the  water,  and,  having  no  boats,  we  floated  off 
on  bales  of  hay  and  found  them  surprisingly  buoyant.  The  wounded  were  first  cared 
for,  and  then  all  took  passage  on  the  hay-bale  line. 

"  The  enemy  now  hailed  us  from  shore,  ordering  us  to  come  in  and  surrender,  but,  on 
learning  that  we  had  no  boats,  sent  their  own  to  our  assistance,  capturing  all  but  one 
of  the  survivors.  That  one,  Julius  C.  Conklin  by  name,  was  the  only  man  in  the  party 
who  could  not  swim.  He  managed,  with  the  aid  of  a  piece  of  wreckage,  to  reach  the 
Louisiana  shore  unobserved  by  the  enemy,  and  rejoined  his  company  two  days  later. 

"  When  all  had  been  rescued  and  assembled  in  the  moonlight  under  guard  of 
Confederate  bayonets,  the  roll  was  called,  and  just  sixteen,  less  than  half  our 
original  number,  were  found  to  have  survived.  Some  of  the  scalded  men  were 
piteous  sights  to  behold,  the  flesh  hanging  in  shreds  from  their  faces  and  bodies,  as 
they  ran  about  in  excruciating  agony,  praying  that  something  be  done  to  relieve 
their  sufferings.  These,  with  the  wounded,  were  speedily  sent  to  a  hospital,  where 
some  of  them  died  the  next  day. 

"  It  is  not  often,  even  in  a  soldier's  life,  that  one  is  compelled  to  face  death  in  so 
many  forms  as  beset  our  little  party  on  that  memorable  night;  shot  and  shell,  fire, 
water,  and  a  boiler  explosion  with  its  attendant  horrors.  Our  captors  treated  us 
with  marked  consideration,  affording  every  courtesy  consistent  with  the  rules  of  war 
and  we  were  the  recipients  of  many  attentions  from  soldiers  and  citizens,  who 
seemed  to  marvel  at  the  temerity  of  our  undertaking.  We  were  held  prisoners  in 
Vicksburg  for  two  days,  when  General  Grant,  having  crossed  the  river  and  defeated 
the  enemy  near  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  began  to  threaten  the  city  from  the  rear. 
We  were  then  paroled,  and  hurriedly  forwarded  to  Richmond,  Va.,  where,  after  an 
eventful  journey  through  the  Confederacy,  we  duly  arrived,  and  were  assigned 
quarters  in  that  famous  Confederate  hostelry,  Libby  Prison.  Here  we  remained 
about  six  weeks  before  we  were  exchanged  and  we  were  only  able  to  rejoin  the  regi 
ment  in  the  trenches  before  Vicksburg,  on  the  evening  before  the  surrender,  just  in 
time  to  be  in  at  the  death. 

"  Language  fails  to  describe  my  feelings,  when  with  a  few  companions  I  entered 
the  city  the  next  morning,  July  4th,  immediately  after  the  surrender,  under  circum 
stances  in  such  marked  contrast  with  my  forced  advent  of  a  few  days  before.  Now 
no  hostile  demonstrations  of  any  kind  greeted  us.  The  great  guns  were  still,  the  hos 
tile  flags  were  furled  and  '  Old  Glory '  floated  proudly  from  the  public  buildings,  while 
our  late  foes  were  quietly  resting  in  their  camps  awaiting  the  pleasure  of  the  victors." 


THE  END  OF  THE  JOURNEY. 


—  180  — 


ROUTED  MORGAN'S  RAIDERS 


T 


E  Twentieth  Michigan  Infantry  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  W.  H.  Smith, 
formed  part  of  a  provisional  brigade  which 
included  three  regiments  of  Kentucky  cavalry 
and  the  Thirteenth  Indiana  Independent  Bat 
tery,  and  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Richard 
T.  Jacob.  The  gallant  regiment  from  Michi 
gan,  was  sent  with  this  provisional  brigade 
south  of  the  Cumberland  River,  to  hold  the 
Confederate  general,  John  Morgan,  in  check. 
How  this  was  accomplished  Major  Byron  M. 
Cutcheon  describes  as  follows : 

"After  some  skirmishing  at  Monticello, 
Ky.,  we  had  fallen  back  to  the  Cumberland  River 
on  May  9,  1863,  and  were  waiting  for  a  scout 
ing  party  to  come  in,  to  recross,  when 
Morgan's  advance  attacked  our  outpost  at 
Horse  Shoe  Bend,  that  evening.  I  hastened 
back  to  the  Bend  to  take  command  of  the 
companies  stationed  there,  while  Colonel 

Smith  remained  behind  to  hurry  up  the  rest  of  the  regiment.  That  night  the 
regiment  came  up,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  we  were  re-enforced  by  a  small 
body — a  squadron  I  believe — of  the  Twelfth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  dismounted,  and 
armed  with  Henry  repeating  rifles. 

"  Before  their  arrival,  Morgan's  men  made  a  dash  and  succeeded  in  seizing  the 
'Coffey'  house,  a  large  log  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  so  called  after  its 
owner,  We  had  occupied  it  as  a  picket  post  through  the  night.  The  house,  out 
buildings,  and  garden  were  filled  with  rebel  sharpshooters,  who,  though  they 
harassed  us  throughout  the  day,  did  not  attempt  to  advance. 

"About  4  o'clock  P.  M., — it  was  Sunday— Colonel  Jacob  having  been  re-enforced 
by  a  piece  of  Captain  Sims'  battery,  resolved  to  take  the  aggressive,  and  to  drive  the 
rebels  out  of  the  house  and  grounds.  To  me  was  assigned  the  command  of  four 
companies,  A  and  D,  on  the  left  of  the  road  in  the  field,  and  C  and  K,  in  the  road  and 


BYEON  M.  CUTCHEON. 

Major,  20th  Mich.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Brevet  Brig-Gen.,  U.  S.  V. 
Born  at  Pembroke,  N.  H.,  May  11, 1836. 


Morgan's  Raid. — In  the  summer  of  1863,  General  John  Morgan  conducted  his  famous  raid  through 
Kentucky  into  Indiana  and  Ohio.  Starting  from  Sparta,  Tennessee,  with  a  force  of  3,000  men,  he  made  his 
way  northward  to  the  Ohio  at  Brandenburg,  and  crossed  into  Indiana.  He  was  stopped  at  various  points 
by  local  forces,  but  made  his  way  into  Ohio,  made  a  circuit  to  the  north  of  Cincinnati,  and  attempted  to 
recross  the  river.  He  was  driven  back  by  Federal  gunboats,  and  passed  on  to  New  Lisbon,  where  he  was 
captured  by  the  brigade  of  General  Shackleford.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  for  four  months,  then  made  his 
escape  into  Kentucky,  and  finally  reached  Kichmond.  • ' 


—  181  — 

to  the  right.  At  the  signal  we  went  forward  at  our  very  best  pace.  I  was  then  just 
six  feet  two  inches  tall,  one  half  of  the  length  in  legs,  and  an  expert  runner  from 
practice  in  college.  I  took  a  course  directly  down  the  road  to  the  south  in  front  of 
the  companies, — one  could  hardly  say  '  line ',  for  there  was  no  line ;  it  was  a '  go  as  you 
please'  foot  race — with  Captain  George  C.  Barnes,  an  old  fireman  from  Battle  Creek, 
Mich.,  a  good  second,  a  rod  behind  me.  The  distance  was  about  150  yards,  and  we 
made  it  on  the  jump.  There  were  three  steps  up  to  the  porch,  but  I  made  only  one 
of  them.  With  my  sword  in  my  right  hand,  and  a  big  Colt's  navy  revolver  in  my 
left,  I  threw  myself  against  the  weather-beaten  door.  A  moment  later,  Captain 
Barnes  came  to  my  side,  and  the  door  yielded. 


"I    THREW    MYSELF  AGAINST 
THE  WEATHER-BEATEN    DOOR." 


"Why  we  were  not  both  shot  down  then  and  there,  I  have  never  been  able  to 
understand.  The  rebels  certainly  missed  their  opportunity.  Instead,  we  saw  the 
Johnnies  going  out  of  the  back  doors  and  windows,  and  making  for  the  woods,  while 
the  companies  coming  up  right  and  left  of  the  house,  poured  volleys  into  the 
retreating  foe. 

"  The  charge  was  a  complete  success,  but  Lieutenant  William  Green  and  two 
enlisted  men  were  killed,  and  quite  a  number  wounded." 


WIT  AND  NERVE  OF  A  SOLDIER-CLERGYMAN 


T 


E  matters  of  food  for  men,  fodder  for 
horses,  and  horses  and  mules  for  the 
transportation  of  an  army  in  the  enemy's 
country,  are  among  the  most  important 
considerations  presented  to  a  commanding 
officer.  Forage  duty  on  the  other  hand, 
requires  alertness,  quick  wit  and  good 
judgment,  and  prompt,  energetic  action 
on  the  part  of  the  men  detailed  on  such 
service.  It  was  wrhile  in  command  of  a 
party  of  foragers  that  the  acting  regimen 
tal  quartermaster  of  the  Twenty-first  Iowa 
Infantry,  won  his  Medal  of  Honor  at 
Champion  Hills,  Miss.  This  quartermaster, 
First  Lieutenant  James  Hill,  was  before 
the  war  a  clergyman,  but  he  gave  up  his 
pastorate  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Twenty-first  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  was  later  promoted  to  be  lieutenant, 
and  was  finally  assigned  to  duty  as  chaplain  of  his  regiment. 

Of  the  episode  at  Champion  Hills,  where  he  captured  three  Confederate  pickets, 
Lieutenant  Hill  says : 

"  On  the  16th  of  May,  1868,  while  acting  as  quartermaster  of  my  regiment,  I  was 
ordered  by  my  commander,  Colonel  Samuel  Merrill,  to  select  as  many  soldiers  as  I 
needed,  and  return  in  the  direction  of  the  Raymond  and  Jackson  Cross  Roads  to 
forage  and  collect  anything  that  would  serve  the  regiment  on  our  march  to  the  Big 
Black  River  and  Vicksburg.  I  selected  a  sufficient  number  of  good  men,  and  sent 
them  out  to  cover  part  of  the  country,  giving  them  orders  to  report  to  me  at  Ray 
mond  and  Jackson  Cross  Roads  with  what  forage  they  had  gathered  in,  preparatory 
to  our  return  to  the  regiment. 

'After  getting  my  men  off  on  their  mission,  I  took  a  pony  belonging  to  the  regi 
ment  and  rode  through  some  timber  and  brush  in  search  of  food,  mules  and  horses. 


JAMES  HILL. 

1st  Lieutenant,  Co.  I.  -21st  Iowa  Infantry. 
Born  at  Cheddar,  Eng.,  Dec.  6, 1822. 


Champion  Hills — After  entering  Jackson,  Miss.,  May  13,  1863,  and  learning  that  Pemberton  was  ad 
vancing  toward  the  Federals'  rear,  Grant  turned  his  troops  westward  so  as  to  be  ahead  of  Pemberton. 
This  move  placed  McClernand's  Corps  in  the  lead,  and  reaching  Champion  Hills,  Miss.,  on  the  16th,  Mc- 
Clernand  was  forced  into  an  engagement  with  Pemberton.  McPherson  came  upon  the  field  near  noon ; 
a  battle  of  four  hours'  duration  was  fought  in  deadly  earnest,  and  resulted  in  Pemberton  being  forced 
back  to  Big  Black  River,  where  Grant  overtook  him,  and,  in  a  sharp  action,  routed  the  enemy.  The 
Federals  lost  2,268  in  killed  and  wounded ;  while  the  Confederates  lost  3,000  in  killed  and  wounded,  and 
2,000  taken  prisoners. 


— 183  — 


In  following  a  path  through  the  dense  timber  I  unexpectedly  rode  right  into  the 
Confederate  lines,  and  encountered  three  rebel  pickets  with  their  loaded  rifles. 
I  realized  at  once  that  I  had  gotten  myself  into  a  nasty  position.  Neverthe 
less,  I  did  not  lose  my  presence  of  mind,  for  as  I  emerged  from  the  brush,  I  instantly 
and  in  the  most  natural  manner,  ordered  the  Johnnies  to  '  ground  arms ! '  They 
obeyed.  Then  slightly  turning  my  head,  I  addressed  an  imaginary  guard  in  the 
brush,  with  a  hasty  order  to 
'halt'.  The  under  growth  and 
brush  were  so  heavy  that  the 
Confederates  were  prevented 
from  seeing  through  and  thus 
discovering  the  deception.  I 
next  gave  the  command :  '  Ten 
paces  to  the  front,  eyes  to  the 
center.'  Seeing  my  revol 
ver  in  my  hand  ready  for 
instant  use,  the  three  men 
complied  with  my  com 
mand.  I  further  added 
that  if  any  of  them 
turned  his  head  to  right 
or  left  I  would  shoot 
him  down  in  his 
tracks.  I  frequently 
gave  the  order  to 
'  halt '  to  my  imagin 
ary  guard,  tending 
to  frighten  my  pris 
oners  into  absolute 
obedience.  This  done, 
I  deliberately  dismounted 
and  gathered  up  the  three  rifles, 
placed  them  against  the  neck  of 
the  pony,  mounted,  took  the  rifles 

under  my  arm  and  then  gave  the  order  to  my  prisoners:  'Single  file,  march/ 
and  to  my  imaginary  guard :  'Forward,  march.'  I  hurried  toward  the  command  at 
good  speed.  Before  it  began  to  dawn  upon  my  prisoners  that  I  had  fooled  them, 
they  found  themselves  within  our  lines.  I  turned  them  and  their  rifles  over  to 
Colonel  Merrill  who  sent  them  to  Major-General  McClernand.  When  the  prisoners 
saw  that  I  had  fooled  them,  their  anger  was  vented  in  terms  more  strong  than  polite, 
one  of  them  saying  to  me:  '  Lieutenant,  you  could  never  have  taken  us  but  for  that 
devil  of  a  body-guard  we  thought  you  had,  from  the  way  you  kept  halting  them.' " 


'SINGLE  FILE, 
MARCH!" 


—  184  — 


CAPTURES  HIS  CAPTOR 


GEORGE  WILHELM. 

Captain.  Co.  F,  50th  Ohio  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Colonel. 

Born  in  Sciotio   County,  O.,  April  2, 1830. 


T~\URING  the  Vicksburg  campaign  the  Fifty-sixth 
*^  Ohio  Infantry  was  with  Colonel  J.  R.  Slack's 
Second  Brigade  of  the  Twelfth  Division,  Brigadier- 
General  Alvin  P.  Hovey,  of  the  Thirteenth  Army 
Corps  under  Major-General  John  A.  McClernand. 
first,  and  later,  Major-General  E.  0.  C.  Ord.  On  the 
16th  of  May,  about  noon,  the  Federal  forces 
attacked  the  Confederates  at  Champion  Hills.  The 
contest  was  bitter  and  stubborn  for  several  hours, 
but  finally  General  Pemberton  ordered  his  army  to 
fall  back  towards  Vicksburg.  Thus  closed  the  last 
and  most  strenuous  effort  of  the  Confederate  gen 
eral  to  prevent  the  complete  investment  of  that 
city  by  Grant.  The  Fifty-sixth  Ohio  participated  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills, 
and  Captain  George  Wilhelm,  of  that  regiment,  tells  his  experience  as  follows : 

"The  country  over  which  we  advanced  on  the  enemy  was  hilly  and  wooded, 
with  an  occasional  clearing  in  which  we  were  raked  by  a  most  galling  fire  from 
the  enemy's  sharp-shooters.  I  was  ordered  to  deploy  two  companies  of  infantry 
as  skirmishers.  We  were  to  advance  across  a  clearing,  and  drive  the  enemy  from 
the  woods  on  the  opposite  side,  where  they  were  ensconced  behind  trees  in  large 
numbers. 

"We  advanced  amid  a  sweeping  fire,  and  slowly  gained  on  the  enemy.  During 
the  skirmish  I  lost  a  number  of  men.  Unable  to  maintain  the  ground  I  had  gained, 
I  turned  back  and  joined  my  command,  the  Twelfth  Division,  Thirteenth  Army 
Corps,  in  the  general  engagement. 

"  The  whole  brigade  charged  upon  the  enemy,  but  we  were  not  able  to  strike  a 
decisive  blow,  although  we  had  inflicted  heavy  losses  on  them.  Five  times  a 
charge  was  made,  and  after  each  attempt  we  retreated  part  of  the  distance  we  had 
advanced.  During  the  fifth  charge,  I  received  a  shot  in  my  left  breast,  the  bullet 
going  through  me.  I  reeled  and  fell,  and  was  left  on  the  field. 

"  Some  time  later,  one  of  the  Confederates  rushed  to  the  place  where  I  lay,  and 
taking  me  prisoner,  brought  me  to  the  rear  of  their  lines.  At  Baker's  Creek  I 
persuaded  my  guard  to  stop  and  allow  me  to  attend  to  my  wound.  I  managed  to 
stop  the  flow  of  blood  by  bathing  the  wound,  and  the  cool  water  revived  my  energy. 
"It  was  fearfully  hot  at  the  time,  and  I  continued  to  gain  new  strength,  while 
my  guard  paid  more  attention  to  the  fight  than  to  me.  When  I  felt  comparatively 
comfortable,  I  began  to  wratch  for  an  opportunity  to  escape.  Once  my  guard  turned 
his  back  on  me;  that  was  his  mistake,  for  no  sooner  had  he  turned  than  I  sprang 
forward,  seized  his  musket  and  fixed  it  at  his  breast.  Before  he  had  recovered  from 


—  185  — 

his  surprise,  I  ordered  him  to  '  about  face '  and  '  forward,  march.'  Then  I  led  him 
by  a  circuitous  route,  to  the  rear  of  our  lines.  It  wasn't  very  easy,  for  I  could 
hardly  walk  myself.  My  wound  pained  me  considerably  and  made  breathing  very 
difficult.  However,  I  did  not  betray  my  own  troubles  to  my  prisoner,  and  brought 
him  safely  to  our  lines,  where  I  turned  him  over  to  the  guard.  Then  I  applied  for 
medical  aid  at  the  hospital." 


"I  ORDERED  HIM  TO  'ABOUT  FACE.'" 


KENDALL'S  TEN  FOOT  LEAP 


ON  the  17th  of  May,  1863,  the  Federal  troops  under  General  Lawler,  encountered 
the  Confederates  at  the  Big  Black  River  Bridge,  Miss.,  well  defended  on  both 
sides.  A  charge  was  ordered,  and  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  Federal  troops 
had  to  wade  through  a  wide  ditch  in  front  of  the  Confederate  earthworks,  the 
position  was  carried,  seventeen  guns  were  captured,  and  several  hundred  prisoners 
were  taken.  Among  the  troops  in  this  charge  was  the  Forty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 


-186  — 


and  almost  at  the  beginning  of  the  charge  a  majority 
of  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  regiment  were 
either  killed  or  captured.  So  it  happened  that  the 
command  of  Company  A,  of  the  Forty-ninth  Indiana, 
devolved  upon  First  Sergeant  WLliam  Kendall. 

Tall,  straight  as  a  gun  barrel,  athletic,  and  wholly 
free  from  superfluous  flesh,  Sergeant  Kendall  had  an 
ideal  soldierly  appearance,  and  more  than  that,  he 
appreciated  the  responsibility  of  his  position.  From 
both  sides  the  fire  was  incessant  and  severe  until  the 
advance  of  his  company  was  suddenly  blocked  by  a 
ten  foot  ditch.  With  a  yell  and  a  run  he  leaped 
across  the  opening  to  a  pile  of  rails,  and  there,  under 
fire,  he  personally  assisted  in  laying  rails  across  the 
ditch  that  his  men  might  more  easily  follow  him. 

Then,  leading  the  charge  he  ordered,  he  and  his  men  entered  the  works  and  cap 
tured  more  prisoners  than  he  had  soldiers  in  his  command,  the  other  Confederates 
beating  a  hasty  retreat. 


WILLIAM  KENDALL. 

1st  Seig't,  Co.  A,  49th  Indiana  Infantry. 
Born  in  Dubois  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  31, 1839. 


A  BRAVE  SACRIFICE 


IN  the  woods  at  Carsville,  Va.,  May  15,  1863,  occurred  one  of  the  most  stubbornly 
*  contested  engagements  experienced  by  the  Seventh  Army  Corps.  Two  days 
prior  to  this  date,  about  5,000  infantry,  the  Eleventh  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,,  and 
two  batteries  of  artillery  were  tearing  up  the  Roanoke  Railroad,  while  about  the 
same  number  of  Confederates  were  attempting  to  drive  them  away. 

In  recounting  the  event,  Private  Joseph  S.  G.  Sweatt,  of  the  Sixth  Massachusetts 
Infantry,  says : 

"  Skirmishes  of  more  or  less  importance  occurred  on  the  13th  and  14th  of  May, 
but  on  the  15th  the  two  lines  of  battle  faced  each  other.  The  company  to  which 
I  belonged,  could  muster  only  twenty-eight  men — the  remainder  being  on  the  sick 
list.  Our  company,  along  with  Company  I,  was  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers 
into  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  at  once  the  firing  became  furious.  In  less  than 
fifteen  minutes  more  than  one-third  of  our  little  company  was  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Seeing  that  the  enemy  had  the  advantage,  the  lieutenant  in  command 
ordered  us  to  retreat — but  as  skirmishers.  It  was  not  long  before  we  discovered 
that  our  line  of  battle  had  fallen  back,  their  retreat  being  covered  by  the  fire  of  the 
Seventh  Massachusetts  Battery. 

"While  we  were  falling  back,  Comrade  Thurston,  of  Company  H,  came  up  to  me 
and  enquired  about  his  son,  who  was  a  member  of  our  company.  Some  one  said 


—  187  — 


that  he  and  George  Fox  were  lying  near  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  both  wounded.  His  face  blanched ; 
that  look  of  despair  in  his  face  decided  my  course. 
I  at  once  gave  my  gun  to  a  sergeant  and  called  out 
for  some  one  to  go  with  me  to  recover  those  two 
wounded  boys.  Dave  Goodhue  immediately  re 
sponded,  threw  down  his  gun,  and  together  we 
started  to  rescue  our  comrades.  Closely  scanning 
the  field  after  we  had  started,  we  could  see  the  two 
blue  spots  lying  between  the  lines.  The  closer  we 
got  to  them,  the  thicker  the  bullets  flew.  It  looked 
to  us  as  though  we  would  be  unable  to  reach  them. 
We  pushed  on,  however,  determined  to  save  our 
friends,  and  finally  reached  them  ;  but  as  we  were 
lifting  Fox  from  the  ground,  my  companion,  Good- 
hue,  was  mortally  wounded.  Immediately  after, 
another  shot  struck  Fox  while  I  was  carrying  him. 

"The  Seventh  Massachusetts  had  now  ceased  firing  and  our  whole  line  was 
falling  back.  The  Confederates,  heavily  re-enforced,  charged  out  of  the  woods.  To 
reach  our  retreating  lines  was  now  impossible.  The  enemy  were  upon  us.  The 
Fourth  Louisiana  '  Tigers '  took  us  prisoners. 

"  After  the  engagement  the  wounded  were  gathered  up  and  taken  to  the  Hebron 
Church,  which  was  then  being  used  as  a  hospital.  From  there  we  were  shortly 
after  taken  to  Franklin,  Va.,  where  before  we  left,  all  our  wounded,  except  Goodhue, 
had  died.  I  shall  never  forget  the  last  look  on  Goodhue's  face  as  we  passed  up  the 
street.  The  poor  fellow  was  on  his  knees  looking  out  of  the  window,— left,  to  die 
among  strangers." 


JOSEPH  S.  G.  SWEATT. 

Private  Co.  C,0th  Massachusetts, Inf. 
Born  at  Boscawen,  N.  H.,  Oct.  23, 1843. 


Vicksburg— In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1863,  the  Union  Army,  under  Generals  Grant  and  McCler- 
nand,  was  collected  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  three  months  were  spent  in  exploring  the  vicinity  of  Vicks 
burg  in  the  hope  of  gaining  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the  town.  The  expedition  was  supported  by  Admiral 
Porter  in  command  of  a  flotilla. 

Several  attempts  to  open  a  passage  for  the  gun-boats,  by  cutting  a  canal  across  a  bend  of  the  river 
with  the  idea  of  turning  the  channel,  ended  in  failure. 

In  April  it  was  decided  to  run  the  fleet  past  the  Vicksburg  batteries,  and  on  the  16th  the  passage  was 
effected.  General  Grant  marched  his  land  force  down  the  right  or  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  formed  a 
junction  with  the  squadron,  and,  on  the  31st  defeated  the  Confederates  at  Port  Gibson.  Shortly  after,  the 
Union  Army  took  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the  city. 

On  the  14th  a  decisive  battle  was  fought  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  in  which  General  Grant's  right  wing 
defeated  General  Johnston's  Division  and  captured  the  town. 

General  Pemberton,  in  command  of  the  Confederate  troops  in  Vicksburg,  made  a  sally  with  the 
greater  part  of  his  force  on  the  16th,  and  was  defeated  at  Champion  Hills  on  Baker's  Creek.  He  had  the 
same  experience  on  the  following  day  at  the  Black  River  Bridge,  and  retired  within  his  defenses. 

General  Grant  ordered  assaults  on  the  19th  and  22d,  which  resulted  in  repulse  with  great  loss.  The 
loss  to  his  force  in  these  two  days  was  estimated  at  nearly  3,000.  The  plan  was  changed  to  one  of  regular 
siege,  assisted  by  a  bombardment  by  the  gun-boats.  The  Confederates  held  out  until  the  4th  of  July,  when 
Pemberton  surrendered  with  all  the  defenders  of  Vicksburg,  numbering  nearly  30,000,  as  prisoners  of  war. 
His  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  31,277.  The  Union  loss  during  the  siege  was  reported  to  be  4,536. 


—  188  — 


WITHIN  A  FEW  FEET  OF  THE  ENEMY" 


A  X  7HEN  Grant,  before  Vicksburg,  realiz- 
*  V  ing  that  the  men  of  his  army 
were  filled  with  the  conviction  that  they 
could  capture  the  city  by  assault,  consent 
ed  to  make  the  last  supreme  effort  in  that 
direction,  it  was  decided  to  begin  the 
assault  on  the  22d  of  May,  1863. 

A  rush  along  the  entire  line  of  invest 
ment  was  planned,  all  officers  setting  their 
time  with  that  of  General  Grant  so  that 
the  attempt  might  be  simultaneous,  and 
when  the  appointed  hour  arrived  the  en 
tire  Union  Army  moved  forward.  It  was 
during  this  assault  that  the  following 
members  of  the  Chicago  Mercantile  Bat 
tery  won  their  Medals  of  Honor  :  Captain 
Patrick  H.  White,  Corporal  James  Dunne, 
and  Privates  Charles  Kloth,  George  Kret- 
singer,  Patrick  McGuire  and  William  G. 
Stephens. 

Captain  White  narrates  the  occurrence 
himself  in  these  words  : 

"  The  morning  of  May  22d,  at  10  A.  M.,  was  set  for  the  grand  assault.  At  3  o'clock 
A.  M.  the  cannonading  began  from  the  land  side.  Every  available  gun  was  brought 
to  bear  on  the  works.  The  bombardment  this  day  was  the  most  terrible  during  the 
siege  and  continued  without  intermission  until  nearly  11  o'clock,  while  our  sharp 
shooters  kept  up  such  a  galling  fire  that  the  rebel  cannoneers  could  seldom  rise  to 
load  their  pieces. 

"  The  artillery  of  McClernand's  Thirteenth  Corps  had  succeeded  in  breaching 
several  points  of  the  enemy's  works,  silencing  five  or  six  guns  and  exploding  four 
caissons,  and  at  10  o'clock  the  column  moved  to  the  assault.  About  twelve  o'clock 
I  received  a  note  from  General  Smith  to  bring  two  guns  down  the  ravine,  to  go  up 
to  the  breastworks  and  hammer  down  a  fort.  The  general  concluded  his  note 
with:  'We  shall  be  inside  the  rebel  works  in  half  an  hour.' 

"  In  order  to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  ground,  I  went  up  the  gully  to  the  fort 
and  discovered  a  lunette  in  their  works  on  the  Balding's  Ferry  Road,  with  a  twenty- 
four  pounder  covering  that  approach.  On  the  top  of  the  fort  they  had  piled  cotton 
bales.  In  building  this  fort  they  covered  half  of  the  road  with  earth,  so  there  was 


PATRICK  H.  WHITE. 

Captain,  Chicago  Mercantile 

Battery,  Lt.  Art. 
Born  in  Ireland,  in  1833. 


WILLIAM  G.  STEPHENS. 

Private,  Chicago  Mercantile 

Battery.  Lt.  Art. 

Born  in  New  York,  December, 

1SJ3. 


—  189- 


space  enough  for  only  one  gun.  I  got  a  detail  from  the  Eighty-third  Indiana 
Infantry,  and  with  ropes  we  dragged  one  gun  up  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  breast 
works  by  hand,  the  infantry  carrying  the  ammunition  in  their  arms.  We  used 
shrapnel,  with  fuses  cut  so  close  that  the  shells  exploded  almost  as  soon  as  they  left 
the  gun.  The  first  discharge  wras  simultaneous  with  that  of  the  enemy,  striking 
their  gun  in  the  muzzle  and  scattering  death  among  their  gunners.  I  never  saw  a 
gun  loaded  and  fired  so  fast.  Every  man  was  at  his  best.  They  did  not  take  much 
care  in  sponging,  and  once  or  twice  the  gun  was  prematurely  discharged.  We 
disabled  the  enemy's  gun  and  set  the  cotton  bales  on  fire,  and  they  abandoned  the 
fort  for  twenty  minutes,  thinking  it  was  undermined. 
That  was  the  time  for  our  infantry  to  pass  in,  but  we 
did  not  know  it  then.  The  rebels  returned  and 
threw  water  on  the  cotton  bales,  but  our  guns  blew 
the  latter  to  pieces.  An  Irishman  of  the  Eighty- 
third  called  out:  'Be  gad,  captain,  there's  not  a 
pound  of  them  left.  I'll  go  and  get  you  another  load  of 
ammunition.'  As  he  stepped  off  the  road  to  go  down 
the  gully,  a  shot  from  the  Seventeenth  Ohio  Battery 
cut  off  his  right  arm. 

"  The  Seventeenth  had  taken  a  position  in  our  old 
place   in   the    road    near    the    First    United    States 
Infantry,  but  the   latter  stopped   them   from  doing 
further  damage.    General  Smith  told  me  that  Quinby's 
Brigade  was   coming  to   support  us,   so   I  told    the 
drivers  of  the  guns  and  limbers  that  lay 
here,  to  get  back  to    where    they 
came  from  at  full  speed,  and, 
should  they    meet    with    an 
accident,  not   to    stop,   but 
keep  going.      When    part 
way  up  the  hill  a  shell 
passed    between    the 
swing  and  wheel  driv 
ers,  and  exploded  on 
the  other  side  of  them, 
throwing    the     swing 
driver  on  his  face  in 
the  saddle ;  another  shot 
went  under  the  gun. 

"My  four  guns  opened 
with  a  terrific  fire  from  their  "  WE  DRAGGED 

...         ,        ,  .,  _  ONE  GUN    UP." 

position  back  on  the  ridge  and 


—  190  — 

they  saw  the  troops  fall  back  from  the  breast-works.  Overhead  in  the  ravine  the 
air  was  black  with  projectiles  of  all  descriptions  from  friend  and  foe.  I  thought  it 
was  time  to  see  how  the  four  guns  were  getting  along,  and  to  do  this  it  was  neces 
sary  to  go  back  over  the  slope  of  the  ridge.  I  had  not  gotten  half  way  to  the  top 
when  minnie  balls  dropped  around  me  as  thick  as  grasshoppers.  I  retraced  my 
steps  a  short  distance,  and  then  obliqued  around  the  ridge  where  it  ended  abruptly. 
When  the  men  saw  me  they  cheered.  After  dark  Sergeant  Throop  brought  the 
gun  off  safely,  and  it  was  as  hot  as  a  live  coal.  For  a  week  after  the  assault  we 
slept  by  our  guns,  occasionally  firing  through  the  nights.  For  two  weeks  our  horses 
did  not  have  their  harness  off." 

General  Grant  sent  an  account  of  the  operations  before  Vicksburg  to  Field- 
Marshal  Count  Von  Moltke.  The  count  read  it,  marked  the  passage  which  told  of 
this  incident  and  sent  the  description  to  his  chief  of  ordinance.  The  latter  returned 
the  book  with  the  remark :  "Never  was  such  a  brave  deed  done  in  all  the  wars  of 
Europe." 


THE  "FORLORN  HOPE"  AT  VICKSBURG 


COR  superb  gallantry  and  reckless  indifference  to  death  and  danger,  there  is 
nothing  in  military  history  to  excel  the  conduct  of  the  "forlorn  hope"  that  led 
the  general  assault  on  Vicksburg  on  May  22,  1863.  General  Grant  had  encircled  the 
city  on  three  sides  with  a  line  of  battle  twelve  miles  long,  and  on  the  Mississippi, 
which  formed  the  fourth  side,  were  Admiral  Porter's  warships.  The  strength  of  the 
enemy  had  been  greatly  underestimated,  and  it  was  decided  to  make  an  attempt 
to  carry  the  city  by  storm,  in  order  to  avoid  the  tedium  of  a  siege.  The  enemy's 
lines  ran  along  the  top  of  a  bluff,  and  the  point  of  attack  selected  was  to  the  south 
of  one  of  the  forts.  This  fort,  which  was  protected  by  a  ditch  twelve  feet  wide  and 
five  or  six  feet  deep,  rose  about  ten  feet  above  the  level  and  sloped  up  gently 
towards  the  enemy's  guns.  The  face  of  the  fort  was  perpendicular,  the  earth 
having  been  tamped,  instead  of  being  allowed  to  adjust  itself.  The  point  of  attack 
was  in  front  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  and  on  the 
afternoon  of  May  21st,  each  regimental  commander  of  the  division  explained  the 
plan  of  operations  to  his  men  and  called  for  volunteers.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
men  were  required  for  a  "forlorn  hope"  to  lead  the  general  assault  and  prepare  the 
way  for  the  real  attack.  As  these  men  would  be  certain  to  draw  the  enemy's  fire, 
there  was  little  probability  of  any  of  them  returning  alive,  and  on  that  account  it 
was  decided  not  to  order  any  man  to  go,  but  to  depend  entirely  on  volunteers. 
Each  regiment  was  to  supply  its  quota,  and  in  view  of  the  terrible  risk  to  be 
incurred,  orders  were  given  that  none  but  unmarried  men  were  to  be  accepted. 
The  men  responded  promptly  to  the  call,  and  in  such  numbers  that  twice  as  many 
volunteered  as  were  required,  those  who  had  first  offered  their  services  being  accepted. 


—  191  — 

The  work  assigned  to  the  "  forlorn  hope "  was  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  ditch 
which  protected  the  front  of  the  enemy's  fort,  plant  their  scaling  ladders  against 
the  embankment,  and  it  was  expected  that  by  the  time  this  was  done,  the  support 
ing  brigades  would  be  ready  to  carry  the  works  by  a  grand  assault. 

On  the  following  morning  the  storming  party  was  led  through  a  ravine  to  the 
Jackson  Road,  which  crossed  the  enemy's  lines  at  right  angles.  In  this  ravine,  out 
of  sight  of  the  enemy,  was  a  pile  of  roughly  hewn  logs,  another  of  lumber,  and  a 
number  of  scaling  ladders.  The  advance  party  was  to  carry  the  logs,  two  men  to 
each  log,  make  a  dash  for  the  enemy's  entrenchments  and  throw  the  logs  across 
the  ditch  to  form  the  ground  work  of  a  bridge.  The  second  detachment  was  to 
follow  close  up  with  the  lumber,  which  was  to  be  thrown  across  the  logs  to  make 
sure  footing  for  the  stormers.  The  third  detachment  was  to  bring  up  the  scaling 
ladders,  rush  across  the  bridge,  and  plant  them  against  the  enemy's  works. 

The  moment  the  "forlorn  hope"  emerged  from  the  ravine,  they  came  within 
view  of  the  enemy,  who  opened  so  heavy  a  fire  on  them  that  their  works  were 
covered  with  clouds  of  smoke.  The  gallant  little  band  advanced  at  a  dead  run,  but 
in  the  eighty  rods  of  open  ground  which  lay  between  them  and  the  fort,  about  half 
of  them  were  shot  down.  When  the  survivors  arrived  at  the  ditch,  they  found  it 
impossible  to  build  a  bridge,  as  so  many  of  the  logs  had  been  dropped  by  the  way, 
and  it  was  equally  impossible  to  remain  where  they  were,  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire. 
There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  jump  into  the  ditch,  and  seek  shelter.  Private 
Howell  G.  Trogden,  who  carried  the  flag  of  the  storming  party,  planted  it  on  the 
parapet  of  the  fort,  and  dropped  back  into  the  ditch,  where  he  kept  up  a  fire  on  the 
Confederates  whenever  they  attempted  to  reach  it  and  take  it  in. 

The  other  brigades  advanced  to  the  support  of  the  stormers,  but  were  driven 
back  by  the  heavy  fire,  and  all  that  reached  the  ditch  were  thirty  men  of  the 
Eleventh  Missouri  with  a  colonel,  major,  and  two  lieutenants.  They  planted  their 
flag  along  side  that  of  the  storming  party,  and  sought  shelter  where  they  could,  in 
the  ditch,  or  in  holes  dug  in  the  embankment.  The  Confederates  finding  it  impos 
sible  to  depress  their  guns  sufficiently  to  reach  them,  dropped  12-pounder  shells 
among  them,  but  the  fuses  were  cut  too  long,  and  consequently  did  not  explode  for 
about  ten  seconds.  This  gave  the  stormers  time  not  only  to  get  out  of  the  way,  but 
even  to  toss  some  of  the  shells  back  over  the  parapet,  otherwise  not  a  man  would 
have  survived.  As  it  was,  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  was  strewn  with  mangled  bodies, 
with  heads  and  limbs  blown  off. 

The  Thirty-seventh  Ohio  Volunteers,  who  were  advancing  to  the  support,  be 
came  panic-stricken  and  broke.  The  men  lay  down  in  the  road,  and  sought  shelter 
behind  rocks  and  inequalities  of  the  ground.  They  refused  to  either  advance  or 
retire,  and  lay  there  for  hours,  blocking  the  way  of  the  regiments  which  were 
coming  up  behind,  thus  compelling  them  to  make  a  long  detour,  and  deliver  their 
attack  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  position.  While  making  this  detour,  they  were 


—  192  — 


VOLUNTEER  STORMERS 


exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy  for  nearly  the  whole  distance,  and  were  so  weak 
ened  in  consequence,  that  they  failed  in  their  attack. 

The  assault  had  now  failed  at  every  point,  although  Admiral  Porter's  ships  had 
kept  up  a  heavy  bombardment,  and  the  Federal  troops  were  obliged  to  withdraw 


VICKSBURG.    MAY  22,   1863. 


and  seek  cover,  from  which  they  kept  up  a  heavy  and  well  sustained  fire.  All  this 
time  the  men  in  the  ditch,  unable  to  either  retreat  or  advance,  held  their  position 
with  the  utmost  tenacity  and  weakened  the  fire  of  the  rebel  guns  by  shooting  down 
the  gunners.  In  order  to  dislodge  them,  a  gun  loaded  with  grape  was  dragged  to  a 


—  194  — 


position  where  it  would  enfilade  the  ditch,  but  sharpshooters  shot  down  the  gunners, 
before  a  single  round  could  be  fired.  Others  attempted  to  take  their  places,  but  it 
was  certain  death  to  approach  the  gun,  and  it  was  abandoned. 

All  day  long,  from  10  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  darkness  fell,  the  unequal 
fight  went  on  ;  then  the  little  body  of  survivors  crept  out  of  the  ditch,  carrying  with 
them  their  flags,  riddled  with  bullets,  and  made  their  way  back  to  their  own  lines. 
Of  the  storming  party  eighty-five  per  cent  were  either  killed  or  dangerously 
wounded,  and  few  of  them  escaped  without  a  wound  of  some  kind. 

When  the  storming  party  withdrew,  they  left  behind  them  William  Archinal, 
who  had  been  stunned  by  a  fall,  and  who  was  afterwards  captured  by  the  enemy. 
Archinal  and  another  man  had  been  carrying  a  log  between  them,  and  had  neared 
the  ditch,  when  his  comrade  was  shot.  His  sudden  fall  and  the  consequent  dropping 
of  his  end  of  the  log,  threw  Archinal  to  the  ground,  where  he  struck  his  head  against 
a  stone  a  ad  he  became  unconscious.  His  adventure  is  best  told  in  his  own  words  ; 
he  says : 

"When  I  came  to  my  senses,  I  was  lying  on  my  face  with  the  log  across  my  body 
and  showers  of  bullets  whistling  through  the  air  and  dropping  all  around  me. 
These  bullets  I  found,  came  from  my  own  division,  and  to  save  myself  from  being 
shot  by  my  own  comrades,  I  wriggled  from  under  the  log,  and  got  it  between  me  and 
them.  It  was  providential  for  me  that  I  did  so,  for  I  could  hear  the  bullets  striking 
the  log  in  dozens.  Sometime  during  the  afternoon  one  of  our  cannon  balls  struck 
the  log  close  to  my  head ;  the  log  bounded  in  the  air  and  fell  a  little  way  from  me,  but 
I  crawled  up  to  it  again  and  hugged  it  close.  The  firing  continued  incessantly  all 
day  until  nightfall,  when  it  gradually  slackened,  and  finally  died  away  altogether. 
1  thought  I  could  make  my  way  back  to  my  regiment,  but  as  I  was  rising  the  butt 
of  my  gun  which  was  slung  on  my  back,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  enemy  above 
me.  Half  a  dozen  rifles  were  pointed  at  me,  and  I  was  ordered  to  surrender,  which 
I  did,  considering  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor. 

"  When  I  was  taken  into  the  fort,  a  rebel  officer  came  up  to  me,  slapped  me  on 
the  shoulder,  and  said  :  '  See  here,  young  man,  weren't  you  fellows  all  drunk  when 
you  started  this  morning  ? '  I  replied:  ' No  Sir. '  '  Well,  they  gave  you  some  whiskey 
before  you  started,  didn't  they  ?'  he  said,  and  I  answered:  'No  Sir,  that  plan  is  not 
practised  in  our  army.' 

;' Didn't  you  know  it  was  certain  death,'  he  asked  me  again,  and  I  replied:  'Well, 
I  don't  know,  I  am  still  living.' 

'  Yes,'  he  said,  '  You  are  living,  but  I  can  assure  you  that  very  few  of  your  com 
rades  are.' 

"  I  was  then  placed  in  charge  of  a  guard,  taken  to  the  city  and  put  into  the  yard 
of  the  jail  where  I  met  some  fifty  or  sixty  of  our  men,  taken  at  different  points 
during  the  day.  The  jail  yard  was  enclosed  by  a  high  brick  wall  with  large  syca 
more  trees  growing  inside.  I  was  nearly  dead  from  fatigue,  so  immediately  crawled 
into  one  of  the  tents  put  up  for  our  accommodation,  and  was  o-n  the  point  of  drop- 


THIS  GAVE  TIME  TO  TOSS  SOME    OF  THE  SHELLS  BACK.' 


—  196  — 

ping  off  to  sleep,  when  our  mortar  boats  on  the  Louisiana  shore  opposite  Vicksburg, 
opened  fire  on  the  city,  throwing  their  450-pound  fuse  shells  promiscuously  all  over. 
Of  course,  there  was  no  sleep  for  us  that  night,  and  just  about  daylight  one  of  those 
shells  struck  the  jail,  the  roof  of  which  was  covered  with  slate.  I  made  a  jump  for 
one  of  the  sycamore  trees,  but  before  I  reached  it,  a  piece  of  slate  from  the  roof  cut 
the  rim  of  my  hat  in  front  of  my  face  as  clean  as  though  it  had  been  done  by  a  razor. 

"A  southern  man,  suspected  of  being  in  sympathy  with  the  Union  cause,  was 
located  in  one  of  the  cells,  and  when  this  shell  burst  in  the  lower  part  of  the  jail,  the 
poor  fellow  was  nearly  scared  to  death.  He  clung  to  the  iron  grating  of  the  window 
and  prayed  to  God  that  Grant  might  come  that  very  minute,  and  take  the  God-for 
saken  city  and  everybody  in  it. 

"About  nine  o'clock  A.  M.  an  officer  came  and  took  our  parole,  and  then  with  a 
small  detachment  of  rebel  guards,  we  were  marched  down  to  the  river  in  front  of  the 
city.  The  guard  intended  to  escort  us  to  the  Louisiana  side  and  deliver  us  to  our 
own  men,  but  our  mortar  boats,  suspecting  this  to  be  merely  a  ruse  of  the  rebels,  and 
fearing  an  attack,  opened  fire  on  us,  dropping  big  shells  all  around  us  into  the  river. 
We  pushed  off  in  yawls  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  after  getting  out  a  little  way  we 
did  not  fear  them,  as  they  could  not  elevate  the  mortars  sufficiently  to  do  us  any 
harm.  Thus  after  many  narrow  escapes  I  reached  our  own  lines  in  safety,  a  pa 
roled  prisoner,  having  been  under  fire  ten  hours  and  in  captivity  about  twelve." 

Uriah  H.  Brown  was  one  of  the  section  that  carried  the  logs.  His  captain  was 
shot  dead  at  his  side  and  his  lieutenant  dangerously  wounded,  but  he  kept  on  till  he 
reached  the  ditch.  He  threw  his  log  across,  but  found  it  too  short  to  reach  to  the 
other  side.  While  considering  what  he  could  do  he  was  shot  down  and  tumbled  into 
the  ditch.  When  he  came  to  his  senses  and  found  the  enemy  dropping  shells  into 
the  ditch  among  the  wounded  men,  he  set  to  work  to  drag  them  into  sheltered  posi 
tions.  He  had  got  three  of  the  wounded  into  a  safe  place,  when  one  of  the  officers 
forbade  him  to  expose  himself  any  longer.  He  lay  quiet  for  a  time,  but  the  longing 
to  get  back  came  over  him  and  he  climbed  out  of  the  ditch  and  crawled  for  fifty  yards 
exposed  to  the  terrible  fire,  till  he  found  a  place  of  safety  behind  a  little  knoll.  Two 
wounded  men  were  lying  near  by,  moaning  in  pain,  and  he  crept  out  and  dragged 
them  under  cover,  gave  them  water  and  lay  down  beside  them  till  nightfall,  when 
he  assisted  them  back  to  their  own  lines. 

Corporal  Robert  Cox,  Company  K,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  gives  a  humorous 
description  of  his  experience  at  the  assault: 

"After  Trogden  had  planted  his  flag  on  the  parapet,  the  Confederates  tried  to 
capture  it  by  hooking  it  in  with  the  shanks  of  their  bayonets,  but  failed,  owing  to  the 
hot  fire  kept  up  by  the  sharpshooters.  Thereupon  Trogden  asked  me  for  my  gun  to 
give  the  enemy  a  thrust.  This  was  a  very  foolish  request,  for  no  soldier  ever  gives 
up  his  gun,  but  I  concluded  to  try  it  myself.  I  raised  my  head  again  about  as  high 
as  the  safety  of  the  case  would  permit,  and  pushed  my  gun  across  the  intervening 
space  between  us  and  the  enemy,  gave  their  bayonets  a  swipe  with  mine,  and  dodged 


—  197  — 


down  just  in  time  to  escape  being  riddled.  I  did  not  want  any  more  of  that  kind  of 
amusement,  so  did  not  undertake  to  force  the  acquaintance  any  further.  After  we 
had  been  in  this  predicament  about  two  hours,  they  sent  over  a  very  pressing  invita 
tion  to  'Come  in,  you  Yanks.  Come  in  and  take  dinner  with  us.'  We  positively 
declined,  however,  unless  they  would  come  out  and  give  us  a  chance  to  see  if  the 
invitation  were  genuine.  This  they  refused  to  do,  but  agreed  to  send  a  messenger. 
By  and  by  it  arrived  in  the  shape  of  a  shell,  which  went  flying  down  the  hill  without, 
however,  doing  us  any  damage." 

Jacob  Sanford,  commissary-sergeant,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  tells  that  while 
with  the  storming  party,  he  came  out  with  no  injury  more  serious  than  a  sprained 
hip  caused  by  grape  shot  striking  the  plank  he  was  carrying.  He  had  been  very 
near  death  more  than  once,  however,  for  he  had  two  bullet  holes  through  his  hat, 
nine  through  his  blouse.  The  bullets  in  passing  through  his  hat,  had  carried  away 
locks  of  hair  with  them  in  their  course. 

The  names  of  the  surviving  heroes  whose  courage  and  bravery  was  fittingly 
recognized  by  a  grateful  country  by  the  award  of  the  Medal  of  Honor  are  as 
follows : 


CHRISTIAN  ALBERT, 

Private,  Co.  G,  47th  Ohio  Inf. 

CLINTON  L.  ARMSTRONG, 

Private,  Co.  D,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

WILLIAM  H.  BARRIXGER, 

Private,  Co.  F,  4th  W.  Va.  Inf. 

THOMAS  A.  BLASDELL, 
Corporal,  Co.  H,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

EMMER  BOWEN, 

Private,  Co.  C,  127th  111.  Inf. 

HENRY  G.  BUHRMAN, 
Private,  Co.  H,  54th  Ohio  Inf. 

WILLIAM  CAMPBELL, 
Corporal,  Co.  I,  30th  Ohio  Inf. 

WILLIAM  H.  CHISMAX, 

Sergeant,  Co.  I,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

CARLOS  N.  COLBY, 
Sergeant,  Co.  G,  97th  111.  Inf. 

JAMES  S.  CUNNINGHAM, 

Private,  Co.  D,  8th  Mo.  Inf. 

MARTIN  K.  DAVIS, 

Sergeant,  Co.  H,  116th  111.  Inf. 

DAVID  F.  DAY, 

Private,  Co.  D,  57th  Ohio  Inf. 

RICHARD  W.  DsAViTT, 
Sergeant,  Co.  D,  47th  Ohio  Inf. 

DAVID  DICKIE, 
Sergeant,  Co.  A,  97th  111  Inf. 

JOHN  N.  ECKES, 

Private,  Co.  E,  47th  Ohio  Inf. 

JOHN  H.  FISHER, 

1st.  Lieut.,  Co.  B,  55th  111.  Inf. 

JAMES  E.  FLYNN, 

Sergeant,  Co.  G,  6th  Mo.  Inf. 

FRANZ  FREY, 
Corporal,  Co.  H,  37th  Ohio  Inf. 


NICHOLAS  GESCHWIND, 

Captain,  Co.  F,  116th  111.  Inf. 

THOMAS  GUINN, 

Private,  Co.  D,  47th  Ohio  Inf. 

DAVID  H.  HELMS, 

1st  Sergt.,  Co.  B,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

JAMES  HENRY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  B,  113th  111.  Inf. 

LEWIS  T.  HUNT, 

Private,  Co.  H,  6th  Mo.  Inf. 

WILLIAM  JOHN, 

Private,  Co.  E,  37th  Ohio  Inf. 

ELISHA  JOHNS, 
Corporal,  Co.  B,  113th  111.  Inf. 

DAVID  JOHNSTON, 

Private,  Co.  K,  8th  Mo.  Inf. 

DAVID  JONES, 
Lieut.,  Co.  I,  54th  Ohio  Inf. 

JOSEPH  S.  LABILL, 

Private,  Co.  C,  6th  Mo.  Inf. 

JAMES  W.  LARRABEE, 

Sergeant,  Co.  I,  55th  111.  Inf. 

WILLIAM  H.  LONGSHORE, 

Private,  Co.  D,  30th  Ohio  Inf. 

JAMES  M.  MCCLELLAND, 

Private,  Co.  B,  55th  111.  Inf. 

ANDREW  MCCORMACK, 

Sergeant,  Co.  I,  127th  111.  Inf. 

EDWARD  McGixx, 

Private,  Co.  F,  54th  Ohio  Inf. 

WILSON  McGoxAGLE, 

Private,  Co.  B,  30th  Ohio  Inf. 

JACOB  C.  MILLER, 

Sergeant,  Co.  G,  113th  111.  Inf. 

JEROME  MORFORD, 

Private,  Co.  K,  55th  111.  Inf. 


JASPER  N.  NORTH, 

Private,  Co.  D,  4th  AV.  Vsi.  Inf. 

JACOB  H.  OVERTURE, 

Private,  Co.  K,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

JOEL  PARSONS, 

Private,  Co.  B,  4th  AV.  Va.  Inf. 

AVii.r.iAM  REED, 
Private,  Co.  H,  8th  Mo.  Inf. 

Louis  RENXIGER, 

Private,  Co.  H,  37th  Ohio  Inf. 

FREDERICK  ROCK, 
Private,  Co.  H,  37th  Ohio  Inf. 

BENJAMTX  AV.  SCHENK. 
Corporal,  Co.  D,  116th  111.  Inf. 

AXDREW  SCHMAUCH, 

Private,  Co.  A,  30th  Ohio  Inf. 

CHRISTIAN  SCHNELL, 
Corporal,  Co.  C,  37th  Ohio  Inf. 

REUBEN  SM ALLEY, 
Private,  Co.  F,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

AVii.LiAM  STEINMETZ, 

Private,  Co.  G,  83d  Ind.  Inf. 

JAMES  C.  SUMMERS, 

Private,  Co.  H,  4th  AV.  Va.  Inf. 

WILLIAM  TOOMER, 
Sergeant,  Co.  F,  127th  111.  Inf. 

Ho  WELL  G.  TROGDEX, 

Private,  Co.  D,  8th  Mo.  Inf. 

JOHN  AVARDEX, 

1st  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  55th  111.  Inf. 

RICHARD  H.  AVooo, 

Captain,  Co.  A,  97th  111  Inf. 

JOSEPH  AA'ORTICK, 

Private,  Co.  A,  8th  M«.  Inf. 


—  198  — 


•COME  ON,  YOU  BRAVE  YANK" 


THOMAS  H.  HIGGINS. 

Private,  Co.  D.  99th  Illinois  Infantry. 
Born  in  Franklin  Co.,  New  York,  June  8, 1831. 


'"THE  assault  upon  that  part  of  the  works  of 
Vicksburg,  occupied  by  the  Twenty- 
Second  Texas,  was  made  by  the  Eighth  and 
Eighteenth  Indiana,  First  United  States 
Kegulars  and  the  Thirty-third  and  Ninety- 
ninth  Illinois,  in  the  order  named.  Regard 
ing  the  assault,  Captain  A.  C.  Matthews,  of 
the  Ninety-ninth  Illinois,  says  :  "  I  was  in 
command  of  the  color  company  on  May  22. 
1863.  The  color  bearer  had  been  wounded 
a  few  days  before  and  was  not  on  duty  that 
morning.  Private  Thomas  H.  Higgins,  a 
big,  strong,  athletic  Irishman,  solicited  the 
privilege  of  carrying  the  flag  for  the  day.  I 
gave  him  permission  and  handed  over  the 
standard  to  him,  telling  him  not  to  stop  un 
til  he  got  into  the  Confederate  works.  He 
obeyed  this  order  literally." 

The   manner  in  which   Private  Higgins 
carried  out  the  order  of  his  superior  officer, 

cannot  be  more  fittingly  recounted  and  with  greater  credit  to  the  brave  color  bearer 
than  by  Charles  I.  Evans,  an  ex-Confederate  soldier  of  the  Second  Texas,  who  says: 
"After  a  most  terrific  cannonading  of  two  hours,  during  which  the  very  earth 
rocked  and  pulsated  like  a  thing  of  life,  the  head  of  the  charging  column  appeared 
above  the  brow  of  the  hill,  about  100  yards  in  front  of  the  breast  works,  and,  as  line 
after  line  of  blue  came  in  sight  over  the  hill,  it  presented  the  grandest  spectacle  the 
eye  of  a  soldier  ever  beheld.  The  Texans  were  prepared  to  meet  it  however,  for,  in 
addition  to  our  Springfield  rifles,  each  man  was  provided  with  five  additional 
smooth-bore  muskets,  charged  with  buck  and  ball. 

"When  the  first  line  was  within  fifty  paces  of  the  works,  the  order  to  fire  ran 
along  the  trenches,  and  was  responded  to  as  from  one  gun.  As  fast  as  practiced 
hands  could  gather  them  up,  one  after  another,  the  muskets  were  brought  to  bear. 
The  blue  lines  vanished  amid  fearful  slaughter.  There  was  a  cessation  in  the  firing. 
And  behold,  through  the  pall  of  smoke  which  enshrouded  the  field,  a  Union  flag 
could  be  seen  approaching. 

"  As  the  smoke  was  slightly  lifted  by  the  gentle  May  breeze,  one  lone  soldier  ad 
vanced,  bravely  bearing  the  flag  towards  the  breast  works.  At  least  a  hundred  men 
took  deliberate  aim  at  him,  and  fired  at  point-blank  range,  but  he  never  faltered. 
Stumbling  over  the  bodies  of  his  fallen  comrades,  he  continued  to  advance.  Sud- 


—  199  — 


denly,  as  if  with  one  impulse,  every  Confederate  soldier  within  sight  of  the  Union 
color  bearer  seemed  to  be  seized  with  the  idea  that  the  man  ought  not  to  be  shot 
down  like  a  dog.     A  hundred  men  dropped  their  guns  at  the  same  time;  each  of 
them  seized  his  nearest  neighbor  by  the  arm  and  yelled  to  him:     'Don't  shoot  at 
that  man  again.    He  is  too  brave  to  be  killed  that  way,'  when  he  instantly 
discovered  that  his  neighbor  was  yelling  the  same   thing  at 
him.     As  soon  as  they  all  understood  one  another,  a 
hundred  old  hats  and  caps  went  up  into  the  air, 
their  wearers  yelling  at  the  top  of 
their  voices:     'Come  on, 
you  brave  Yank, 
come  on!' 


'ONE 

LONE 
SOLDIER 
ADVANCED." 

"He  did 
come,  and  was 
taken  by  the  hand 
and   pulled   over  the 
breast  works,  and  when  it 
was  discovered  that  he  was 
not  even   scratched,  a  hundred 
Texans  wrung  his  hands  and  con 
gratulated   him   upon   his   miraculous 
escape  from  death.     That  man's  name  was 
Thomas  J.  Higgins,  color  bearer  of  the  Ninety- 
ninth  Illinois." 

Private  Higgins  was  then  taken  before  General  Pem- 
berton,  the  rebel  commander,  who  asked  him  where  General  Grant's 
headquarters  were. 

"I  do  not  know,  as  he  is  moving  them  every  day,  but  they  will  be  here 
tomorrow,"  came  the  ready  response  from  the  quick  witted  Irishman. 


—  200  — 

"How  many  men  has  your  general  got?"  the  rebel  leader  inquired. 

"  Oh,  not  many,  only  about  seventy-five  thousand,"  Higgins  replied. 

"How  far  back  do  his  lines  extend?" 

"As  far  as  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  they  are  still  being  formed  in  the  state  of  Maine." 

"Well,"  General  Pemberton  observed  sarcastically,  "we'll  have  Grant  in  here  as 
a  prisoner  tomorrow." 

"I  know,"  was  the  doughty  Yankee  soldier's  reply,  "General  Grant  will  come  in 
here  tomorrow  to  ship  you  and  your  command  to  Altona,  Illinois,  where  he  has  a  big 
boarding  house." 

At  this  General  Pemberton  got  angry.  "Sergeant,"  he  exclaimed,  "take  this 
man  away.  He  is  insulting.  He  is  impudent.  He  is  insolent." 

Thereupon  Private  Higgins  was  led  away,  a  few  days  later  paroled,  exchanged, 
and  subsequently  he  returned  to  his  regiment,  where  he  remained  until  the  end  of 
the  war. 

His  Medal  of  Honor  was  awarded  him  at  the  request  of  the  very  Confederates 
who  captured  him  at  the  assault. 


A  T  2  P.  M.  of  the  22d,"  First  Lieutenant  Meno- 
•**•  men  O'Donnell  narrates,  "  orders  were  given 
for  the  second  charge  on  Vicksburg,  to  be  led  by 
the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fifteenth  Army 
Corps,  commanded  by  General  Joseph  A.  Mower. 
The  Eleventh  Missouri  led  the  advance.  The 
enemy's  guns  had  been  booming  for  some  time,  but 
as  soon  as  the  Union  advance  was  seen  coming  over 
the  bluff,  the  fire  seemed  to  double  its  former 
strength  and  fury.  The  ground  was  covered  with 
the  dead  and  wounded,  and,  not  seeing  my  colors 
I  felt  like  one  lost  in  the  wilderness.  I  called  out: 

'Where  is  the  flag  of  the  Eleventh  Missouri  ? '  A  captain  of  an  Ohio  company 
answered:  'Lieutenant,  your  flag  is  over  there!'  then  pointing  still  farther  to 
the  left  he  said  :  '  And  the  head  of  your  regiment  is  at  the  fort.'  I  soon  found 
the  flag,  and  called  all  of  the  Eleventh  Missouri,  within  sound  of  my  voice,  to  come 
forward  to  the  colors.  Only  forty-four  appeared.  I  exhorted  the  boys  to  follow 
me  to  the  fort.  The  color  sergeant  refused  to  carry  the  flag.  Just  as  I  was  about 
to  reach  for  it,  brave  Corporal  Warner  stepped  forward,  grabbed  the  flag,  and  to 


MENOMEN  O'DONNELL. 

1st  Lieutenant,  Co.  A,  llth  Missouri  Volun 
teer  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 
Born  in  Trimborty,  Ireland,  April  30, 1830. 


—  201  — 


the  fort  it  went  with  us.  It  was  raised,  but  soon  shot  down,  only  to  be  again  put 
up  and  floated  on  the  rebel  fort  until  dark.  Twenty-four  of  the  forty-four  got  to  the 
fort.  After  arriving  there  we  could  do  nothing  but  sit  with  our  backs  to  the  wall 
until  darkness  came,  when  under  cover  of  the  night,  we  finally  got  out,  and  safely 
returned  to  camp. " 

Shortly  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  Lieutenant  O'Donnell  was  detailed  on 
General  Mower's  staff,  served  with  him  in  his  campaign  directed  against  Fort 
De  Russy,  La.,  where  he  voluntary  took  a  place  in  the  ranks  of  an  assaulting 
column,  and  was  twice  wounded  during  the  engagement.  Referring  to  this  action, 
the  lieutenant  says :  "  Returning  from  a  reconnoisance,  in  which,  with  a  few 
mounted  orderlies,  I  had  taken  twenty  prisoners,  with  some  supply  wagons,  I  found 
General  Mower  with  the  command,  about  two  miles  from  the  fort.  The  general 
said  to  me :  'Captain,  I  have  received  orders  to  go  into  camp;  what  do  you  say  ? ' 

"'General,  it  is  not  for  me  to  say  what  to  do,'  I  answered. 

"'I  wish  you  would  give  me  your  opinion,'  he  persisted. 

"'General,'  I  replied,  'if  I  were  in  your  place,  I  would  capture  Fort  DeRussy  be 
fore  evening.  If  we  don't,  the  enemy  will  be  gone  before  daylight.'  'Just  my  own 
opinion,'  General  Mower  said,  requesting  me  to  take  a  brigade,  and  open  fire, 
which  was  the  signal  for  a  general  charge.  Subsequently  I  led  the  Twenty-fourth 
Missouri  of  Colonel  Shaw's  Brigade  against  the  enemy.  There  was  some  hard  fight 
ing,  but  at  6:30  P.  M.  we  were  in  possession  of  the  fort." 


A  FLAG  THE  REBELS  DIDN'T  GET 


"AT  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  May  22d,  at 
**  Vicksburg,  our  brigade  captured  a  fort, 
together  with  a  number  of  prisoners.  The  colors 
of  the  Forty-eighth  Ohio  and  Seventy-seventh 
Illinois  Infantry,  were  ordered  to  be  planted  on 
the  fort,  which  was  done  by  Sergeant  Dave  Vore 
and  one  of  the  Illinois  men. 

"We  were  then  in  a  very  desperate  position, 
and,  in  addition  to  the  enemy's  fire,  received  some 
of  the  shells  of  our  own  batteries,  which  fell  short 
of  their  mark.  To  relieve  myself  somewhat  of 
this  uncomfortable  situation,  I  unfixed  my  bay 
onet  and  dug  a  little  trench  near  the  top  of  the 
works,  close  by  our  flag.  An  Illinois  man  crawled 

beneath  me,  into  an  excavation  caused  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.     We  arranged 
that  he  should  reload  our  guns,  while  I  continued  firing  at  the  enemy  whenever  one 


ISAAC  H.  CARMEN. 

Corporal,  Co.  A.  48th  Ohio  Infantry. 
Born  in  New  Jersey,  Nov.  17, 1841. 


—  202  — 


of  them  would  come  within  my  sight  and  range.  This  lasted  several  hours,  when, 
the  rebels  brought  a  battery  to  bear  on  my  position,  and,  for  some  time  the  shells 
were  singing  their  song  so  dangerously  near  to  my  head,  that  my  position  became 
hardly  tenable.  A  little  later  the  enemy  began  massing  troops  at  this  point.  I  was 
able  to  distinctly  hear  their  commands  and  see  their  numerous  bayonets.  Then  I 
thought  it  high  time 
to  notify  our  officers  of 
the  danger  our  flag 
was  in.  I  noticed  that 
our  men  were  some 
distance  behind,  in  the 
ditch,  but  determined 
to  rescue  the  flag, 
rushed  back,  and  re 
ceived  from  Captain 
Posegate,  the  permis 
sion  to  get  it,  if  pos 
sible.  I  seized  it  none 
too  soon,  for  the  ter 
rific  assault  came 
sooner  than  I  had  ex 
pected. 

"  I  reached  the  top 
of  the  bastion  and  grasped 
the  Ohio  flag ;  the  Illinois  stand 
ard  could  not  be  saved.    How  I  got 
down  and  paced  the  hundred  feet 
to   our  ditch,  through  all   that  tre 
mendous  fire,  I  cannot  tell.     In  my  great 
haste    I   ran    right  into   the   bayonet    of 
one  of  my   own  company,  who  was  then   in 
charging  position,  driving  its  entire  length  into 
my  leg  and  thigh.     Although  I  almost  dropped  into  a  faint, 
I  had  enough  presence  of  mind  to  run  the  shaft  of  the  flag 
into  the  dust  and  hang  on  to  it.     My  comrades  pulled  me 
down  into  their  ditch  and  got  the  bayonet  out  of  my  leg. 
I  was  then  taken  to  the  rear." 

Besides  the  exploit  which  Corporal  Isaac  H.  Carmen  here 
describes,  he  also  saved  the  lives  of  a  number  of  his  comrades,  by  seizing  a  shell 
with  a  burning  fuse,  and  throwing  it  back  to  the  rebels,  whence  it  came,  slaughter 
ing  them  with  their  own  weapon  of  death,  intended  for  the  Union  men. 


:l  SEIZED  IT  NONE 
TOO  SOON.', 


—  205  — 


LAY   HIM   IN  THE  SHADE;  HE  WONT  LAST  LONG7' 


BENJAMIN   F.  HILLIKER, 

Drummer,  Co.  A.sth  Wisconsin  Vol.  Inf. 
Born  at  Golden,  Erie  Co..  X.  Y.,  May  23, 1813. 


THE  morning  of  May  22,  1863,  the  Eighth 
Wisconsin  Infantry  was  sent  on  a  reconnoi- 
sance  to  Chickasaw  Bluffs  and  had  proceeded  to  a 
point  near  Mechanicsburg,  Miss.,  when  the  enemy 
was  discovered  in  force.  It  was  a  time  and  occa 
sion  when  every  available  man  was  needed,  so  that 
Benjamin  F.  Hilliker,  though  mustered  as  a  drum 
mer,  of  Company  A,  asked  for  a  gun  and  volunteered 
to  go  on  the  skirmish  line.  He  was  known  to  be  a 
fine  shot  and  brave,  therefore  his  offer  was  accepted. 
As  to  what  followed  is  told  by  the  young  drummer 
himself  as  follows : 

"  During  the  skirmishing  near  Mechanicsburg,  I 
was  still  company  drummer,  but  I  exchanged  my 
drum  for  a  gun,  as  I  had  done  on  former  occasions, 
and  went  into  the  fight  with  my  company.  Fear 

in  battle  never  seemed  to  unnerve  me.    I  felt  better  at  the  front  in  the  heat  of  the 
fight  than  I  did  at  the  rear. 

"When  the  fight  I  mention  was  becoming  interesting,  I,  with  comrade  John 
Horton,  advanced  about  eight  rods  in  front  of  our  line  to  get  a  clear  view  of  the 
Confederate  line,  and  in  this  we  were  satisfied,  for  when  we  reached  the  top  of  a  low 
hill,  we  were  within  six  or  eight  rods  of  the  Confederates.  My  comrade  was  near  my 
side  when  we  came  within  this  range  of  the  enemy,  and  we  both  raised  our  rifles 
together  to  fire.  Horton's  gun  rang  out  sharply,  but  mine  snapped  or  missed  fire, 
which  placed  me  in  an  awkward  position.  Horton  covered  himself  to  the  right 
behind  a  tree  and  I  jumped  into  a  surface  sand  pit  to  the  left.  While  recapping 
my  gun,  something  occurred  that  seemed  to  me  like  a  terrific  explosion. 

"  It  proved  to  be  a  Minie  ball  passing  through  my  head.  It  entered  at  the  base 
of  the  mastoid  process,  tore  through  my  head,  and  passed  out  at  the  left  nostril. 
The  first  words  I  heard  after  that  unpleasant  incident  were:  '  Lay  him  in  the  shade 
over  there — he  won't  last  long.'  But  I  have  lasted,  though  I  have  to  carry  around  a 
bad  looking  face  where  good  looks  might  have  served  me  better." 

The  Eighth  Wisconsin,  of  which  Drummer  Hilliker  was  a  member,  was  known 
throughout  the  war  as  the  "  Live  Eagle  Regiment."  Its  mascot  was  a  live  bald 
eagle,  famous  as  "  Old  Abe,"  which  was  carried  during  all  the  marches  and  engage 
ments  on  a  perch,  surmounting  the  Union  shield.  At  the  end  of  the  war  the  eagle 
was  presented  to  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  in  the  custody  of  which  the  historical  bird 
died  sixteen  years  later. 


—  206  — 


DROPPED  THE  PEN,  SHOULDERED  THE  MUSKET 


to  a  frail  physique,  Private  Henry  T.  Johns,  after  enlisting,  was  made 
quartermaster's  clerk,  hence  did  not  share  in  a  good  many  of  the  rougher  duties 
of  a  soldier.  On  May  27,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  however,  volunteers  were  called  for, 
to  charge  on  the  enemy's  works— a  so-called  "  Forlorn  Hope."  A  genuine  forlorn 
hope  it  proved  to  be. 

"  Ignoring  my  privilege  to  keep  out  of  the  fight,"  Private  Johns  says,  "  I  volun 
teered  as  one  of  a  squad  of  fifty.  According  to  orders  we  inarched  towards  a  rise  of 
ground,  from  which  we  were  to  charge  on  the  enemy's  ranks.  It  was  the  most 
peculiar  charge  that  I  have  ever  heard  of.  There  was  no  sudden  rush,  no  cheering, 
nor  the  usual  din  of  a  general  charge.  We  were  merely  following  orders  without 
confidence  of  success,  yet  determined  to  do  our  best.  The  plan  was  a  failure  in  con 
ception  and  execution.  We  had  to  charge  over  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  open 
country,  exposed  to  the  fierce  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  then  climb  the  enemy's 
breastworks.  But  we  never  reached  it.  I  ran  on,  knowing  that  my  comrades  were 
dropping  on  every  side  of  me.  Nevertheless  we  pressed  forward  until,  seeing  that 
to  go  farther  would  be  useless  and  only  mean  death,  we  retreated." 

Three  others,  Privates  Frederick  M.  Deland,  James  W.  Strong,  and  Francis  E. 
Warren,  also  received  the  Medal  of  Honor  for  participating  and  distinguishing 
themselves  in  this  same  assault. 


FRUSTRATED  THE 

ENEMY'S  PLANS. 


P 


>  •• 


IRIVATE  WILLIAM  L.  S.  TABOR,  of  Com 
pany  K,  Fifteenth  New  Hampshire 
Infantry,  in  describing  the  part  he  played 
at  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson,-  where  the 
Union  forces  so  determinedly,  though  un 
successfully,  laid  siege  and  assaulted  the 
Confederates,  says : 

"During  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  in 
1863,  it  was  necessary  to  undermine  the 
enemy's  works,  and  for  this  purpose  a 
large  number  of  negroes  was  set  to  work 
digging  a  trench  under  the  rebel  fortifications,  and  protected  by  our  sharpshooters 
who  were  supplied  with  hand-grenades,  to  be  thrown  over  the  parapets.  The  sand 


WILLIAM  L.  S.  TABOR, 

Private,  Co.  K.  15th  N.  H.  Inf. 
Born  in  Methuen,  Massachusetts,  in  1844. 


—  207  — 

from  the  trench  was  thrown  over  the  breastworks,  for  there  was  no  place  to  dispose 
of  it  on  our  side.  This  exposed  our  men  to  the  fire  of  the  rebels,  and  I  was  one  of 
the  men  detailed  as  sharpshooters  to  prevent  the  rebels  from  doing  further  damage. 
We  were  under  a  scathing  fire  all  this  time,  as  the  enemy  were  enabled  to  enfilade 
our  ranks,  and  with  their  shot  and  shell  did  much  damage.  One  of  their  contri 
vances  for  throwing  shells  amongst  our  men,  was  to  place  short  fuse  shells  into  a 
trough,  constructed  of  planks,  lift  up  one  end  of  it,  thus  lowering  the  other  end  over 
our  works,  and  drop  the  shells  into  our  ranks. 


"I  JERKED  IT   INTO  OUR  LINES." 

"The  first  time  they  attempted  this  they  succeeded  in  killing  and  wounding 
125  men,  mostly  negroes,  who  were  engaged  in  shovelling.  Just  as  they  were 
putting  a  second  shell  in  the  trough,  I  jumped  up  on  the  sand  bags  which  formed 
our  breastworks,  slipped  a  noosed  rope  around  the  trough,  and  jerked  it  into  our  lines. 

"  This  resulted  in  throwing  the  shell  the  other  way,  falling  among  the  rebels  and 
exploding  there.  While  slipping  the  rope  around  the  trough  I  was  necessarily  ex 
posed  to  the  full  view  of  the  rebel  sharpshooters  but  I  did  it  so  quickly  and  unex 
pectedly,  that  for  a  moment  not  a  shot  was  fired.  Just  as  I  jumped  down,  the  rebels 
opened  up  and  the  air  was  full  of  bullets,  but  just  a  moment  too  late  to  do  me  any 
harm." 


—  208  — 


BRAVE  AND  RESOURCEFUL 


\  VOLUNTARILY  exposed  himself  to  a  heavy  fire  to 
*      get  water  for  comrades  in  rifle  pits."     This  is 
the  inscription  on  the  Medal  of  Honor,  the  proud 
bearer  of  which  is  Marcus  A.  Hanna,  sergeant  of 
Company  B,  Fiftieth  Massachusetts  Infantry. 

The  incident  occurred  at  Port  Hudson,  on 
July  4,  1863,  and  serves  not  only  to  illustrate 
the  hero's  feeling  for  his  suffering  comrades, 
but  his  courage  and  resourcefulness  as  wTell. 
Sergeant  Hanna  gives  a  detailed  description  of 
the  occurrence,  as  follows  : 

"While  our  forces  were  closely  investing 
Port  Hudson,  four  days  before  its  surrender, 
the  Fiftieth  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry 
was  ordered  into  the  rifle-pits  to  support  a 
New  York  battery.  It  was  early  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  we  had  just  been  relieved  from  similar 
The  men  went  back  to  the  pits  without  having 
time  to  replenish  their  haversacks  or  canteens.  The  day  was  intensely  hot  and 
by  noon  the  men  were  suffering  from  thirst.  How  to  get  water  was  a  problem,  with 
the  enemy  on  the  alert  and  posted  on  works  but  a  short  distance  from  and  consider 
ably  higher  than  our  position. 

"  At  about  2  or  3  o'clock  P.  M.  the  thirst  of  our  men  had  become  almost  unbear 
able  and  Lieutenant  William  H.  Hurd,  in  command  of  our  company,  gave  some  of 
us  permission  to  go  to  the  rear  for  water.  Orderly  Sergeant  Blatchford  and  myself 
were  the  only  sergeants  present  that  day.  I  at  once  volunteered  to  go,  and  asked 
for  a  file  of  men  to  assist  me.  No  one  responded.  I  decided  to  try  it  alone.  I  took 
twelve  or  fifteen  canteens — all  I  could  conveniently  carry — hung  them  about  my 
neck,  and  placed  them  about  my  body  to  afford  protection  from  rebel  bullets.  A 
dummy,  made  by  rigging  up  a  musket  with  a  blouse  and  cap,  was  prepared,  the 


MARCUS   A.  HANNA, 

Sergeant,  Co.  B,  5()th  Mass.  Inf. 
Born  in  Franklin  Co.,  Maine,  Nov.  3, 1842. 


duty,  performed  during  the  night. 


Port  Hudson  or  Hickey's  Landing,  situated  on  a  bond  of  the  Mississippi  River,  twenty-two  miles  above 
Baton  Rouge,  was  strongly  fortified  by  the  Confederates,  and  was  held  in  May,  1863,  by  Colonel  Frank 
Gardner.  It  was  approached  by  the  combined  forces  of  Generals  Sherman,  Augur  and  Banks,  assisted  by 
the  fleet  under  Admiral  Farragut,  and  the  first  line  of  works  was  abandoned  by  the  rebels  on  the  25th.  An 
assault  by  General  Weitzel's  Brigade,  on  the  27th,  resulted  in  failure.  Bombardment  by  the  fleet  con 
tinued  until  the  7th  of  July,  when  Colonel  Gardner,  hearing  of  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  by  the  Union 
Army,  surrendered  with  its  force  of  6,000  men. 

The  Union  loss  during  the  siege  was  about  3,000;  the  Confederate,  7,208,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners. 


—  209  — 


idea  being  to  raise  it  above  our  pit  and,  if  possible,  draw  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and 
then,  before  they  had  time  to  reload,  I  was  to  take  my  chances.  Carefully  we  raised 
the  dummy  until  the  cap  only  could  be  seen,  then  we  ducked  it  out  of  sight,  to 
hoist  it  again  at  once,  this  time  showing  the  head  and  body.  The  deception  was  a 
success,  for  at  once  there  came  a 
heavy  volley,  and  before  the 

smoke  had  cleared  away,  I  was 

x  *    / 
up  and  off  as  rapidly  as 

my  light  but  bulky  load 


I  SPRANG  FROM  THE  PIT." 


would  permit.  I  steered  across  the  level  plains  for  the  nearest  cover  some  500  yards 
away,  but  I  had  not  gone  far,  before  I  could  hear  the  patter  of  bullets  all  around 
me,  and  knew  that  I  was  within  sight  and  range.  Yet,  I  kept  on  my  course, 
until  about  half  the  distance  was  covered  when  I  realized  that  I  could  not  escape 
being  hit,  and  bethought  myself  of  the  ruse  of  throwing  myself  prostrate,  as  if  killed 
or  badly  wounded.  The  trick  was  successful.  The  firing  ceased,  and,  after  lying 
prone  until  I  was  well  rested,  I  sprang  to  my  feet  and  ran  like  a  deer  for  the  black 
berry  hedge.  In  this  second  race,  no  further  shots  were  sent  after  me  by  the  enemy. 
"  I  went  about  half  a  mile  further  to  a  spring,  filled  my  load  of  canteens,  not  one 
of  which,  in  spite  of  the  firing,  had  been  punctured,  and  began  cautiously  to  work 
my  way  back  to  my  company  in  the  rifle-pits.  Instead  of  making  a  bee-line  for 
the  pit,  I  made  a  detour  to  the  left,  in  order  to  bring  one  of  our  batteries  between 
myself  and  the  enemy.  After  I  had  reached  the  battery  I  had  still  some  sixty  or 
seventy  yards  to  go  to  the  right,  wholly  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  However,  I 
covered  this  distance  unmolested.  Lieutenant  Hurd  and  the  men  warmly  con 
gratulated  me,  and  expressed  gratitude  for  the  partial  relief  I  had  brought  them." 


—  210  — 


SEVERE  COST  OF 

SKIRMISHING 


O1 


JAMES  R.  DURHAM, 
2nd  Lieutenant,  Co.  E,  12th  W.  Va.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Captain. 
Born  at  Richmond,  West  Virginia,  Feb.  7, 1833. 


kN  June  14,  1863,  the  Twelfth  West  Virginia 
Infantry  left  the  fortifications  at  Win 
chester  and  were  marched  to  a  stone  wall  on 
the  hills  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Romney 
Road.  They  encountered  the  enemy  at  the  top 
of  the  hills,  and  immediately  an  order  was 
passed  along  the  line  to  fall  back.  The  greater 
part  of  the  regiment  obeyed  and  formed  a 
line  some  distance  back,  leaving  a  number  of 
skirmishers  at  the  wall,  where  they  remained 
until  4  P.  M.,  when  an  advance  was  ordered. 
At  this  time,  Lieutenant  James  R.  Durham, 
commanding  the  skirmishers  at  the  wall,  ad 
vanced,  cleared  the  wall,  and  kept  on  until  he 

was  within  the  lines  of  the  rebels,  who  were  entrenched  behind  another  wall  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  distant.  The  lieutenant  says  in  his  account  of  the  action : 
"  We  had  been  lying  behind  the  stone  wall  several  hours,  because  to  cross  it  or 
even  show  our  heads  above  it,  was  certain  death.  Already  three  of  my  men  had 
been  killed  while  rising  to  get  a  shot.  At  last,  however,  we  were  ordered  over 
the  wall.  Turning  to  my  boys  and  shouting  a  'Good  bye'  and  'Come  on,'  I  was 
the  first  one  over.  We  advanced  about  thirty  yards,  the  bullets  flying  thick  and 
fast  on  all  sides,  when  I  was  struck  in  the  right  hand.  Six  or  seven  of  my  men 
were  also  wounded  about  the  same  time.  Two  advanced  too  far  and  fearing  to 
retreat,  surrendered. 

"I  discovered  that  the  line  of  battle  did  not  intend  to  advance  farther,  but 
instead  took  shelter  behind  the  stone  walls.  I  therefore  ordered  my  men  back,  tak 
ing  our  wounded  with  us.  On  our  retreat  two  or  three  others  were  wounded.  After 
regaining  our  lines  I  examined  my  injuries,  and  now,  for  the  first  time  found  that  my 


Winchester,  Va. — General  Ewell's  Confederate  Army,  after  entering  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  made 
a  forced  march  to  Winchester,  reaching  that  place  on  the  13th  of  June,  1863,  with  the  divisions  of 
Jubal,  Early,  and  Edward  Johnston.  Ewell's  lines  were  extended  over  one  hundred  miles  of  the  country. 
Lee's  Army,  under  Hill  and  Longstreet,  occupied  positions  at  Fredericksburg,  and  Culpepper  Court  House. 

General  Hooker  became  satisfied  that  Lee  contemplated  an  invasion  and  he  accordingly  withdrew 
toward  Washington,  and  Ewell  prepared  to  invest  Winchester,  then  held  by  General  Milroy.  On  the  14th, 
^lilroy  was  apprised  of  this  movement  and  after  a  council  of  officers,  it  was  decided  to  retreat  toward  the 
Potomac.  Johnston  met  Milroy's  force  about  four  miles  from  Winchester  and  dispersed  the  entire  body. 

Milroy's  loss  was  about  4,000  killed,  wounded  and  made  prisoners. 


—  211  — 


right  hand  and  forearm  were  severely  shattered.  I  reported  at  the  hospital  and 
retreated  with  the  command.  The  next  morning  I  was  obliged  to  ride  forty-five 
miles  on  a  bare-backed  horse  to  escape  capture,  while  my  wound  was  still  bleeding. 
1  was  unable  to  report  to  my  regiment  for  duty  for  the  next  six  months." 


"I  SHOUTED  TO   MY   BOYS:    "COME  ON!" 


A  DRAMATIC  INCIDENT  ON  THE  BATTLEFIELD 


"/COLONEL,  you  are  a  brave  man.     You  are  released  from  arrest.     Here  is  my  own 
^     sword.     Take  it  and  bring  it  back  to  me,  red  with  the  enemy's  blood." 

General  Kilpatrick  unsheathed  his  sword  and  handed  it  to  Colonel  Luigi  Palma 
di  Cesnola,  while  a  whole  regiment  in  silent  reverence  witnessed  the  impressive 
scene.  It  was  just  before  the  battle  of  Aldie,  June  13, 1863.  General  Kilpatrick  had 
been  sent  with  his  brigade  in  advance  of  the  main  body  of  the  Union  troops.  The 
rebels  occupied  high  ground  and  were  behind  rails  encircling  large  stacks  of  hay. 
Their  guns  were  doing  considerable  damage  to  the  Union  cavalry  and  the  necessity 
to  silence  or  capture  them  became  urgent. 


—  212  — 


LUIGI  PALMA  DI  CESNOLA, 

Colonel,  4th  N.  Y.Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Brig-Gen.  U.  S.  V 
Born  at  Rivarolo,  Italy,  June  ;>!•.  ISW. 


Colonel  di  Cesnola's   regiment   formed  part  of 
General  Kilpatrick's  brigade.     On  the  very  morning 
of  the  battle  an  unpleasant  episode  marred  the  feel 
ing  of  comradeship  in  the  Northern  ranks.     A  junior 
officer  had  been  promoted  over  Colonel  di  Cesnola  and 
the  latter  felt  offended.     He  did  not  attempt  to  con 
ceal  his  injured  feelings,  but  bluntly  walked  up  to 
General  Kilpatrick  and  protested  against  the  promo 
tion.     For  this  act  of  indiscretion  he  was  ordered 
under  arrest.     In  the  meantime  the  general  ordered  a 
charge  on  the  enemy's  position.     Colonel  di  Cesnola's 
regiment  in  a  body  refused  to  obey  orders.     Not  a  man 
would  stir  unless  led  by  his  own,  dearly  beloved  com 
mander.     For  a  second  the  general  was  nonplussed, 
but  for  a  second  only.     Colonel  di  Cesnola  gave  him 
no  time  to  form  any  conclusion.     The  honor  of  his 
own  regiment  was  now  at  stake.     Without  a  moment's 
hesitation  the  colonel  rushed  at  the  head  of  his  men, 
ordered  the  charge  to  be  sounded  and  led  his  regi 
ment  against  the  rebels.    Three  times  he   made  an 

attempt  to  capture  the  guns  on  the  crest  of  the  hill.     Three  times  he  was  forced  to 
retire. 

General  Kilpatrick  could  not  observe  the  dashing  courage  of  the  brave  New 
Yorkers  and  their  fearless  leader  and  remain  unmoved.  After  the  third  charge 
he  stepped  up  to  Colonel  di  Cesnola  and  addressing  him  in  the  language  afore 
mentioned,  handed  him  his  own  sword. 

A  fourth  charge  wras  made.  Though  the  guns  were  not  captured,  the  enemy  had 
no  desire  for  further  attacks  and  retreated  to  a  safer  position.  But  the  Union  troops, 
too,  paid  dearly  for  the  advantage  gained,  and  the  gallant  New  Yorkers  especially 
mourned  over  an  almost  irreparable  loss.  Colonel  di  Cesnola  had  been  severely 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  His  horse  had  been  killed  under  him.  After  nine 
months  confinement  at  Libby  prison  he  was  exchanged,  and  returned  to  his  colors. 
Colonel  di  Cesnola  was  a  born  soldier  and  a  remarkable  man..  Of  noble  family- 
he  was  a  count — he  was  born  in  Rivarolo,  Italy,  June  29,  1832.  He  entered  the  Sar 
dinian  Army  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  war  against 
Austria.  He  also  participated  in  the  Crimean  war,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  he 
bade  the  old  continent  farewell  and  crossed  the  ocean  to  find  a  new  home  and  serve 
a  new  country  and  a  new  flag.  He  entered  the  service  of  the  Federal  Army  in  1861, 
with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  and  a  year  later  received  his  promotion  as 
colonel.  He  was  one  of  those  warriors  of  whom  the  poet  says  that  they  are  : 
"  Every  inch  a  soldier." 


"HE  WAS  FOUND  UNDER   HIS  DEAD  HORSE." 


—  214 


NARROW  ESCAPE    WHILE  SAVING  A  COMRADE, 


ELDRIDGE  ROBINSON, 

Private,  Co.  C,  122d  Ohio  Vol.  Inf. 
Born  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  January  7, 1844. 


"''THE  Romney  Pike  runs  west  from 
Winchester,  Virginia,  up  a  ravine 
with  hills  rising  abruptly  to  the  north  and 
south,"  Private  Eldridge  Robinson  writes. 
"  In  the  western  outskirts  of  the  city,  close 
to  a  large  walled  spring  on  the  north  side 
of  the  pike,  stands  the  old  Mason  House, 
of  Mason  and  Slidell  fame.  Just  south  of 
this,  extending  from  the  pike  about  four 
hundred  yards  up  the  hill,  is  an  old  blue- 
grass  field,  broken  with  bushy  ravines. 
Separating  this  from  a  clover-field,  and 
about  fifty  yards  before  reaching  the  top 
of  the  hill,  stands  a  stone  fence.  The 
clover-field  extends  about  four  hundred 
yards  on  the  south  side  of  the  hill  to  a 
deep  woody  ravine. 

"On  Sunday  morning,  June  14,  1863, 
the  One  hundred  and  twenty-second  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry  occupied  a  position 

south  of  the  Romney  Road,  with  several  of  our  companies  thrown  forward  as 
skirmishers  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Moses  M.  Granger.  We  occupied  the  crest 
of  the  hill  till  noon. 

"  On  account  of  a  flank  movement,  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  to  the  stone 
fence  and  join  our  commands  lying  behind  it.  In  falling  back,  Price  Worthington 
of  Co.  B,  of  our  regiment,  was  shot  through  the  body.  After  we  had  taken  our  places 
in  the  regiment,  I  asked  several  of  the  boys  to  go  with  me  and  bring  Worthington 
off  the  field.  The  drum-major  agreed  to  follow  me. 

"As  soon  as  I  reached  the  crest  of  the  hill,  I  came  in  range  of  the  rebel  skirmish 
line,  which  opened  on  me  with  energy,  but  hearing  Worthington  groaning  and  beg 
ging  for  help,  I  pushed  on  to  where  he  was  lying,  and,  in  a  short  time  was  joined  by 
the  drum-major.  We  picked  him  up,  and,  amid  a  rain  of  bullets,  of  which  one  hit 
the  wounded  man  in  the  leg,  and  many  cut  holes  in  our  clothes,  we  reached  the  top 
of  the  hill,  when  the  gunner  of  a  battery  about  seventy-five  yards  in  the  rear  of  our 
line,  taking  us  for  the  enemy,  sent  a  shell  so  close  to  our  heads  that  we  were  coth 
thrown  to  the  ground. 

"Although  much  dazed,  we  soon  regained  our  feet,  and,  amidst  the  applause  and 
congratulations  of  the  officers  and  comrades  of  the  regiment,  placed  our  wounded 
comrade  in  the  ambulance." 


—  215  — 


THE  FIRST  UNION  FLAG  IN  VICKSBURG 


HENKY  H.  TAYLOR, 

Sergeant,  Co.  C,45th  111.  Infantry. 
Born  near  Galena,  Illinois,  July  4,1841 


Fort  Hill,  one  of  the  defenses  of  Vicksburg, 
was  undermined  and  blown  up  on  the  25th  of 
June,  the  Forty-fifth  Illinois,  of  which  Sergeant  Henry 
H.  Taylor  was  color-bearer,  was  the  first  regiment  taken 
into  the  breach  by  General  M.  D.  Leggett,  and  fought 
there  most  gallantly  until  relieved. 

According  to  the  statement  of  General  Leggett, 
the  struggle  was  desperate.  The  regimental  colors  were 
bravely  supported  by  Sergeant  Taylor,  and  the  first  to 
be  placed  on  the  rebel  works,  during  the  siege.  In  the 
assault  on  the  22d  of  May,  a  color  bearer,  further  to  the 
left  of  McClernand's  front,  had  advanced  far  enough  to 
plant  his  flag  on,  or  against  the  enemy's  works.  This 
achievement,  however,  was  not  regarded  as  the  placing 
of  the  Union  colors  on  the  rebel  works,  as  they  were 
not  held  there. 

At  Fort  Hill,  the  colors  of  the  Forty-fifth  remained 

until  the  line  could  be  extended  to  another  work  further  to  the  right,  which  was 
also  blown  up.  Then,  as  the  general  saw  that  he  could  not  hold  the  position  and  pre 
vent  its  reconstruction  without  remaining  in  the  crater,  he  withdrew  the  troops 
about  seventy-five  feet  from  it,  and  there  maintained  his  position  until  the  surrender 
of  Vicksburg. 

This  work  was  done  under  the  orders  of  Generals  Logan  and  McPherson.  The 
mining  was  done  under  the  immediate  guidance  and  supervision  of  General  A. 
Hickenlooper,  the  corps  engineer. 

"  The  Forty-fifth  Illinois,"  says  General  Leggett,  "  was  the  first  regiment  to  march 
into  Vicksburg,  receive  the  surrender,  and  hoist  the  flag  on  the  court  house.  The 
whole  of  one  division  went  in  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  no  other  troops.  The  Forty- 
fifth  was  a  part  of  the  first  brigade  which  I  had  commanded,  and  it  was  for  its 
gallantry  in  breaking  the  Confederate  line  as  well  as  for  its  other  services  in  the 
campaign,  that  I  gave  it  the  front  on  that  day." 

Brigadier-General  W.  R.  Rowley  reports,  concerning  the  movements  of  the  Forty- 
fifth,  as  follows : 

"  The  honor  of  leading  the  entry  into  the  city  was  accorded  to  the  Forty-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry,  by  special  request  of  Major-General  McPherson,  it  having  been  the 
regiment  that  first  occupied  the  crater,  after  the  blowing  up  of  Fort  Hill,  or  '  Hell,' 
as  the  boys  called  it.  The  request  was  made  of  General  Grant,  and  I  myself  saw  the 
flag  of  the  Forty-fifth  on  the  court  house,  and  know  the  fact  to  be  as  I  have  stated." 


—  216  — 


A  MORE  GALLANT  CHARGE 
WAS  NEVER  MADE  " 


CHARLES  C.  DAVIS, 

Major.  Ttli  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  Aug.  Jo,  is:(0. 


N  JUNE  27,  1863,  during  the  operations  around 
Shelby ville,  General  Sheridan  ordered  Major 
Charles  C.  Davis  with  300  troopers  of  the  Seventh 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry  to  make  a  charge  on  the 
camp  of  the  Fourth  Alabama,  at  Unionville,  Tenn. 
This  camp  was  composed  of  no  less  than  1,000 
rebels  under  command  of  General  Russell  of  Gen 
eral  Forrest's  Division.  Major  Davis  entered  upon 
the  execution  of  this  order  with  alacrity,  made  the 
charge  and  drove  the  enemy  pell-mell  through 
their  own  camp  and  on  to  Hickory  Hill  Church,  a 
distance  of  seven  miles,  taking  Hardee's  infantry 
picket  and  capturing  a  wagon  train  of  seventeen 
six-mule  teams.  The  gallant  major  then  led  his 

men  back  to  the  rebel  camp,  seized  everything  in  sight  and  subsequently  was  able 
to  report  the  complete  success  of  his  mission  to  General  Sheridan.  The  enemy's 
loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured  was  302  ;  the  entire  camp  and  garrison  equip 
age  fell  into  the  possession  of  Major  Davis'  little  band  and  all  of  the  personal  effects 
of  the  Alabamians  were  taken,  besides  $27,000  in  Confederate  money,  which  were  in 
keeping  of  the  paymaster.  The  success  of  Major  Davis'  achievement  is  the  more 
brilliant  as  it  was  accomplished  with  the  loss  of  but  two  killed  and  one  wounded. 

No  better  idea  of  this  remarkable  cavalry  charge  can  be  given  than  by  the  fol 
lowing  account,  which  Brigadier-General  D.  S.  Stanley  gives  of  it  in  his  report  of  the 
engagement.  Says  General  Stanley  : 

"  The  right  wing  of  General  Rosecrans'  army  had  driven  the  left  of  the  Confederate 
Army,  a  division  of  cavalry  commanded  by  General  Wheeler,  into  the  town  of 
Shelbyville,  when  Wheeler's  force  of  3,000  men  formed  line  just  at  the  northern 
outskirts  of  the  town  to  defend  their  stores. 

"  A  battery  of  four  guns  pointing  north,  commanded  the  principal  turnpike,  well 
supported  by  dismounted  cavalry,  right  and  left.  It  was  decided  to  attack  the  center 


Shelbyville,  Tenn. — About  the  middle  of  June,  1863,  General  Bosecrans  decided  to  attack  Bragg's 
forces  at  Shelbyville,  and  thereby  relieve  East  Tennessee  by  driving  the  Confederates  into  Georgia.  The 
advance  began  on  the  23d  of  June,  when  McCook's  Corps  moved  directly  upon  Shelbyville,  where  demons 
trations  were  to  be  made  while  Crittenden,  Thomas  and  Granger  were  to  move  upon  the  place  from 
different  directions.  Several  severe  encounters  were  had  with  the  enemy,  who  were  in  every  instance 
defeated.  Granger  had  been  joined  by  Stanley,  and  together  they  proceeded  to  Guy's  Gap,  which  they 
took  after  an  hour's  engagement.  They  then  moved  upon  and  occupied  Shelbyville,  which  Bragg  had 
abandonded.  The  Confederate  cavalry  under  Wheeler  were  driven  across  Duck  River  with  a  loss  of  about 
500  prisoners  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores  and  provisions. 


—  217  — 


of  this  line  and  ride  over  the  battery.  The  Seventh  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  was  selec 
ted  for  the  purpose,  supported  by  the  Fourth  United  States  Cavalry.  The  pike  being 
narrow,  the  charge  was  made  in  column  of  fours.  Major  Davis'  position  would  have 
placed  him  on  the  right  of  the  second  squadron,  but  he  volunteered  to  lead  the 
charge  and  put  himself  in  front  of  the  leading  set  of  fours. 

"  At  the  signal  of  two  cannon  shots  from  our  guns,  the  column  dashed  down  the 
pike,  receiving  only  one  round  from  the  hostile  battery,  rode  over  the  guns,  routed 
the  supports,  and  put  the  entire  force  opposed,  to  precipitate  and  disastrous  night. 


THE  ENEMY  PUT  TO  DISASTROUS  FLIGHT. 


The  boldness  of  the  attack  insured  its  success.  Only  one  shell  struck  the  column, 
killing  two  men  and  three  horses  in  the  charge.  Our  captures  were  300  prisoners, 
the  battery  complete,  and  a  large  amount  of  stores. 

"A  more  gallant  charge  was  never  made,  and  Major  Davis  rode  well  in  front  of 
the  leading  sabres,  the  beau  ideal  of  a  trooper." 

Major  Davis  was  complimented  on  the  field  by  General  Sheridan.  Congress,  in 
bestowing  the  Medal  of  Honor  upon  the  gallant  major,  characterized  the  charge  as 
"  one  of  the  most  desperate  and  successful  of  the  war." 


—  218  — 


CAPTURED  A  FLAG  AND  TWO  PRISONERS 


THOMAS  BURKE, 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  5th  New  York  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Ireland,  in  1842. 


PIFTEEN  or  sixteen  miles  due  east  of  Gettysburg 
is  the  little  village  of  Hanover,  Pa.  On  the 
morning  of  June  30,  1863,  General  Kilpatrick 
with  his  Third  Division  of  the  Union  Cavalry 
Corps  under  Major-General  Pleasonton,  reached 
Hanover  and  while  passing  through  the  little 
hamlet,  the  rear  of  his  column  was  suddenly 
surprised  by  receiving  a  sharp  fire  from  a  Con 
federate  battery  posted  on  a  hill.  Kilpatrick  at 
once  realized  that  the  object  for  which  he  had 
been  striving — viz. :  to  keep  his  force  between 
Stuart's  Confederate  cavalry  and  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac — had  been  accomplished  and  at  once 
accepted  Stuart's  challenge.  The  fight  continued 
during  the  day,  resulting  in  Stuart's  falling  back 
toward  York. 

Sergeant  Thomas  Burke,  of  Company  A,  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  had  a  thrilling 
experience  during  this  fight,  of  which  he  says  :  "  We  were  well  worn  out  by  long 
continued  work  in  the  saddle  and  the  attack  was  almost  a  complete  surprise  ;  but 
with  the  first  gun  my  commander,  Colonel  Hammond,  moved  us  quickly  from  the 
street  into  an  open  field  where  we  formed  in  line  for  a  charge.  Getting  the  word 
we  started  directly  toward  the  Confederates  and  we  went  with  such  force  that  the 
enemy's  line  in  our  front  broke  and  we  saw  men  scattering  in  every  direction.  As 
we  neared  the  battery  which  was  still  being  served,  I  noticed  a  Confederate 
flag  and  started  after  it  just  as  Corporal  Rickey  did  the  same  thing.  The  colors 
were  in  charge  of  two  mounted  men  and  it  was  a  race.  Rickey  had  gone  200  yards 
perhaps,  when  his  horse  was  shot  and  thus  I  was  left  to  go  it  alone.  Meanwhile  the 
firing  was  sharp  from  both  sides ;  but  I  gained  on  my  prize  and  closing  in  on  the 
men,  as  I  used  my  carbine  with  good  effect,  I  called  on  them  to  surrender. 

"  My  command  was  almost  instantly  obeyed  and  I  disarmed  each  man  of  carbine, 
sword  and  pistol,  after  which,  I  rushed  them  ahead  of  me  as  fast  as  our  horses — and 
they  were  very  tired — would  take  us  back  to  our  lines.  It  was  a  precarious  ride  of 
course,  but  we  got  there,  flag  and  ail. 

"When  I  took  the  prisoners,  flag  and  arms  to  headquarters,  General  Kilpatrick 
complimented  me  very  highly.  The  colors  which  T  captured  were  those  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Virginia  Regiment." 


—  219  — 


A  GRAVE  FOR  A  PILLOW 


JAMES  M.  RUTTER, 

Sergeant,  Co.  C,  143d  Pa.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  May  13, 1841. 


Q  ERGEANT  JAMES  M.  RUTTER  of  Company  C,  One- 
^  hundred  and  forty-third  Pennsylvania  In 
fantry,  describes  his  experience  on  the  battlefield 
of  July  1,  1863,  thus: 

"  After  being  in  the  great  fight  at  Gettysburg 
from  11  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  four  in  the 
afternoon,  my  regiment,  the  one-hundred  and 
forty-third  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  was  ordered  to 
fall  back,  as  we  were  being  surrounded  or  flanked. 
The  Eleventh  Corps  had  been  routed  previously, 
leaving  our  brigade,  with  the  Sixth  Wisconsin, 
to  cover  the  retreat. 

"  Lieutenant  Kropp  of  our  company  called  out  that  it  would  not  do  to  abandon 
Captain  Reichard,  who  had  been  shot  during  the  retreat,  and  asked  for  volunteers  to 
take  him  off  the  field.  No  one  responded.  I  could  not  bear  to  see  the  captain  left 
to  his  fate,  so  I  jumped  up — we  were  all  lying  down  and  firing  at  the  rebels  in  the 
railroad  cut  opposite — and  started  for  him,  calling  back  that  I  would  attempt  the 
task.  It  was  on  the  Chambersburg  Pike,  about  twenty  feet  in  front  of  the  firing  line, 
that  Captain  Reichard  lay. 

"  When  I  reached  his  side,  I  asked  him  if  he  could  walk  and  he  answered  :  '  Yes.' 
I  lifted  him  up  and  started  back  to  the  company.  The  Minies  sang  like  bees  around 
our  heads.  There  was  a  high  fence  in  the  rear  of  our  line  of  battle,  which  gave  me 
some  trouble,  but  Sergeant  Marcy  took  the  butt  of  his  gun  and  knocked  the  two  top 
rails  down.  It  seemed  as  if  the  rebels  had  made  a  target  of  the  captain  and  myself, 
and  seconds  were  like  hours,  as  the  captain  and  I  finally  passed  over  the  fence 


Gettysburg. — At  the  end  of  June,  1863,  the  command  of  the  Union  Army,  then  gathered  in  the  vicinity 
of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  was  transferred  from  General  Hooker  to  General  George  G.  Meade.  He  was  confronted 
by  the  whole  Confederate  Army,  about  80,000,  under  Lee,  his  own  force  being  slightly  superior. 

The  fighting  commenced  on  July  1st,  with  a  struggle  for  the  possession  of  Seminary  Ridge,  in  which 
the  Union  line  was  driven  from  its  position,  and  back  to  the  high  grounds.  Here,  a  new  line  was  formed 
during  the  night,  reaching  from  Round  Top  around  to  Cemetery  Hill,  and  there  to  Wolf  Hill.  To  this 
position  the  whole  Union  force,  except  Sedgwick's  Corps,  was  hurried  forward. 

On  the  morning  of  July  2d,  Longstreet  attacked  the  Union  left  under  Sickles,  and  after  a  terrible 
battle,  lasting  until  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  strong  position  on  Great  and  Little  Round  Top  remained 
in  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  In  the  center,  a  similar  struggle  for  the  possession  of  Cemetery  Hill,  also 
resulted  in  a  Union  victory.  The  Union  left  was  somewhat  shattered  by  the  Confederate  attack. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  3d,  there  was  fierce  cannonading  for  nearly  three  hours.  The  Confederate 
artillery  was  concentrated  against  the  Union  center.  A  gallant  charge,  made  by  the  Virginians,  under 
General  Pickett,  resulted  in  failure  and  fearful  slaughter. 

The  victory  remained  with  the  Federals,  and  Lee  was  obliged  to  fall  back.  His  loss  in  this  battle  was 
over  30,000,  that  of  the  Federals,  23,186. 


—  220  — 


and  along  the  rear  of  the  firing  line.  After  a  few  minutes,  having  gained  a  little 
hill,  I  thought  all  danger  was  past,  but  I  was  mistaken,  for  I  got  in  between  the  fire 
of  the  rebel  batteries  and  our  own  near  the  seminary.  As  I  walked  along  with 
Reichard,  a  comrade  of  my  company,  George  Tucker,  walked  beside  me  without  his 
hat,  the  blood  running  down  his  face.  I  asked  him  where  he  was  hit,  but  he  would 
not  answer  and  instead  turned  now  and  then  and  started  towards  the  rebels.  I  would 
call  him  back  and  tell  him  not  to  go  that  way,  or  he  would  be  captured.  Then  he  would 
turn  and  come  back  to  me  like  a  child.  I  soon  saw  that  a  ball  had  parted  his  hair 
in  the  middle,  and  that  his  brain  had  been  affected.  "After  passing  our  own  batteries, 

which  were  being  made  ready  to 
limber  up,  I  had  little  trouble  in 
getting  into  the  town,  where  I  left 
the  captain  in  a  private  house,  and 
where  Tucker  disappeared.  They 
both  turned  up  all  right,  however, 
and  later  rejoined  the  company. 

"  After  getting  Captain  Reichard 
over  the  fence,  near  the  Chambers- 
burg  Pike  and  McPherson's  barn, 
Lieutenant  Kropp  immediately  de 
tailed  George  Kindred  to  help  me 
carry  Reichard  to  the  rear.  I  ex 
pected  to  see  an  ambulance  or 
stretcher  there,  but  not  one  was  to 
be  found,  nor  did  I  see  one,  until  I 
got  into  Gettysburg.  After  leaving 
Reichard  in  the  private  house,  I 
saw  one  or  two  of  our  soldiers  run 
ning  ahead  of  me.  I  asked  them 
why  they  were  running  so  hurriedly 
and  they  exclaimed  :  '  Look  back 
and  you'll  find  out ! ' 

"Sure  enough,  there  were  the 
J  ohnnies  right  onto  me.  '  No  Libby 

Prison  for  me!'  I  thought,  and  I  ran  a  race  down  an  alley,  through  fields,  and  at  last 
came  up  to  the  old  cemetery,  where  the  whole  runaway  Eleventh  Corps  was  massed. 
I  slept  that  night  in  the  cemetery,  with  a  grave  for  a  pillow,  and  never  slept  sounder. 
I  supposed  that  I  would  have  trouble  finding  the  balance  of  the  Old  First  Corps,  but  a 
staff  officer  informed  me  that  they  were  right  down  under  the  hill,  and  there  I  found 
my  regiment  and  answered  the  roll  which  was  being  called. 

"  Lieutenant  Kropp  was  glad  to  see  me.     He  had  not  expected  to  see  the  captain 
or  myself  alive  again." 


"NO    LIBBY    PRISON    FOR    ME." 


—  221  — 


SAVED  A  CORPS  FROM  ANNIHILATION 


T^HOUGH  repulsed  early  during  the  afternoon  of 
*  July  1,  the  Confederates  soon  rallied  and 
made  a  most  desperate  attack  upon  the  Union  left, 
along  Willoughby's  Run.  The  Federals  were  driv 
en  back  on  all  sides.  The  First  Corps  which  had 
sustained  the  first  shock  of  the  fierce  assault  of 
the  enemy,  formed  a  new  line  along  Seminary 
Ridge,  and  what  remained  of  its  artillery  was 
posted  as  advantageously  as  possible.  This  move 
ment  left  the  extreme  left  of  the  Eleventh  Corps 
uncovered  and  when,  still  later  in  the  afternoon, 
the  Confederates  made  a  second  attack  upon  the 
Union  forces,  the  enemy  broke  through  the  Fed 
eral  center  and  threw  the  entire  Union  line  into 
disorder.  This  was  the  situation  of  affairs,  when, 
by  assuming  a  responsibility  which  he  was  in  no 
way  called  upon  to  undertake,  Major  Alfred  J. 
Sellers,  of  the  Ninetieth  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
saved  the  Eleventh  Army  Corps  from  probable 
annihilation  by  repulsing  the  enemy's  attack. 

"At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,"  Major  Sellers  says,  "the  Eleventh  Corps  was  being 
forced  back  by  the  rebels,  who  were  coming  from  the  north  in  overwhelming  numbers, 
and  late  in  the  afternoon,  July  1,  1863,  it  gave  way,  carrying  the  First  Corps  along 
with  it  as  far  as  Cemetery  Hill.  This  left  the  Confederates  occupying  the  principal 
part  of  the  town  of  Gettysburg.  Our  brigade  was  on  the  crown  of  Oak  Ridge,  parallel 
with  Cemetery  Ridge,  and  when  the  Eleventh  Corps  gave  way,  a  change  of  front  was 
ordered  under  fire.  At  such  a  time  celerity  of  motion  is  of  vital  importance,  as  a 
change  of  front  seemingly  indicates  a  reverse,  and  it  is  essential  to  create  confidence 
in  the  men  as  to  its  object.  Although  not  in  command,  I  rushed  to  the  front, 
superintended  the  movement  and  quickly  established  the  line  in  its  new  and  more 
advantageous  position.  This  enabled  us  to  pour  an  effective  fire  into  the  ranks  of 
0  Niel's  Alabama  Brigade  of  Infantry,  repulsing  its  attempt  to  turn  the  right  flank 
of  the  First  Army  Corps." 


ALFRED  J.  SELLERS, 

Major,  90th  Penn.,  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained :  Colonel. 

Born  at  Plumsteadville,  Bucks  County,  Penn. 


—  222  — 


TWO  GETTYSBURG  HEROES 


OERGEANT  GEORGE  W.  ROOSEVELT,  of  Company  K, 
^  Twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  distin 
guished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  on  July 
2,  1863,  by  capturing  a  Confederate  color-bearer  and 
his  Hag.  In  one  of  the  numerous  charges  which 
signalized  this  battle,  he  came  upon  the  color-bearer, 
and  covering  him  with  his  musket,  ordered  him  to 
surrender.  The  Confederate  handed  over  his  flag 
and  Roosevelt  marched  him  in  a  prisoner,  but  before 
reaching  the  Northern  lines,  Roosevelt  got  a  bullet 
in  his  leg,  which  brought  him  to  the  ground,  and 
his  prisoner  escaped.  The  wound  proved  a  serious 
one,  and  his  leg  had  subsequently  to  be  amputated. 

Roosevelt  had  previously  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  in  1862, 
by  recovering  the  colors  of  his  regiment  which  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  For  these  two  brave  deeds  he  was  rewarded  by  a  Medal  of  Honor. 


GEORGE  W.  ROOSEVELT, 

1st  Sergeant,  Co.  K.  2tith  Pennsylvania  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Captain. 
Born  at  Chester,  Penn.,  Feb.  14,  LSI:;. 


\  T  EVER  was  there  a  better  instance  of  presence  of  mind  than  that  displayed  by 
^  Sergeant  Harvey  M.  Munsell,  of  Company  A,  Ninety-ninth  Pennsylvania 
Infantry,  on  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  His  regiment  was  stationed 
at  the  Devil's  Den,  where  some  of  the  fiercest  fighting  took  place,  and  made  a  series 
of  charges,  in  the  course  of  which  all  the  color-guard  were  either  killed  or  wounded 
with  the  exception  of  Munsell,  who  was  the  color-bearer. 

Another  charge  was  ordered,  and  Munsell  was  bearing  Old  Glory  aloft  amidst  a 
storm  of  bullets,  when  a  shell  burst  directly  in  front  of  him,  tearing  a  big  hole  in 
the  ground,  and  throwing  the  earth  all  around.  Munsell  tumbled  headlong  into 
the  hole,  and  lay  there  stunned,  with  the  colors  under  him.  His  comrades,  in  the 
excitement  of  the  battle,  did  not  notice  what  had  taken  place,  and  believed  that 
he  had  been  killed  and  the  colors  captured.  A  cry  passed  through  the  ranks,  the 
regiment  faltered,  came  to  a  stop,  and  fell  back  in  disorder. 

When  Munsell  came  to  his  senses,  he  found  himself  lying  close  to  the  enemy's 
lines,  so  close  that  if  they  made  the  slightest  advance  they  would  see  the  flag  that 
he  was  shielding  with  his  body,  and  nothing  could  save  it  from  capture.  If  he  got 
up  and  tried  to  make  his  way  back  to  his  regiment,  he  would  assuredly  be  immedi 
ately  shot  down  by  the  sharpshooters,  and  the  regimental  flag  would  be  equally 


—  223  — 

certain  to  become  the  prize  of  the  enemy.  His  best  chance  lay  in  remaining  where 
he  was,  for  he  knew  that  his  regiment  would  soon  rally  and  return  to  the  charge, 
and  the  probability  was  that  the  enemy  would  not  make  any  advance  just  then. 
He  was  right  in  his  surmise,  for  the  Pennsylvanians,  burning  at  the  supposed  loss  of 
their  colors,  came  on  with  a  rush  that  carried  them  into  the  enemy's  lines.  They 
swept  right  over  Munsell  who,  immediately  they  were  past,  jumped  up  and  rejoined 
his  regiment,  waving  the  colors  to  the  breeze. 


A  MUSKET  BUTT  ARGUMENT 


TT  was  a  gallant  feat  that  entitled 
1  Captain  Edward  L.  Gilligan  of  the 
Eighty-eighth  Pennsylvania  Volunteers 
to  a  Medal  of  Honor.  He  assisted  in 
the  capture  of  the  colors  of  the  Twenty- 
third  North  Carolina  on  the  first  day  of 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Gilligan,  who 
was  first-sergeant  at  the  time  thus 
describes  the  affair : 

"  Iverson's  Brigade  of  North  Caro 
linians  had  attacked  Baxter's  Brigade 
of  the  First  Corps  and  been  repulsed. 

We  got  the  order  to  charge  the  retreating  enemy  and  we  struck  the  Twenty-third 
North  Carolina  and  captured  nearly  the  entire  regiment.  Captain  Joseph  H. 
Richard,  of  my  company,  singled  out  the  color-bearer  of  the  Twenty-third  and  had 
a  hand-to-hand  fight  with  him.  The  Confederate  pluckily  held  on  to  the  colors  and 
only  gave  them  up  when  I  reasoned  with  him  with  the  butt  of  my  musket." 


EDWARD  L.  GILLIGAN, 

Captain.  Co.  E.  SSth  Pa.  Vols. 
Born  in  Philadelphia.  Apr.  18. 1843. 


ANOTHER  exploit  of  Captain  Gilligan  was  performed  during  General  Warren's 
raid  to  destroy  the  Weldon  railroad  in  December,  1864.  Gilligan  was  then  captain 
and  acting  adjutant  of  the  regiment  and  so  was  mounted.  He  says  : 

"  The  enemy's  cavalry  had  driven  in  a  squadron  of  horse  which  formed  our  rear 
guard  and  annoyed  us  considerably  before  they  could  be  driven  off.  When  I  saw 
them  coming  on  again,  I  rode  back  and  made  an  effort  to  rally  our  cavalry,  but  wras 
unsuccessful.  I  found  myself  alone,  facing  the  rebels  who  were  madly  charging 
after  our  boys.  There  was  but  one  way  out  of  it  for  me.  I  slipped  out  of  my  saddle, 
threw  myself  on  the  ground  and  allowed  them  to  ride  over  me.  I  was  covered  with 


—  224  — 

mud,  but  escaped  injury.  When  the  rebels  once  more  retired,  I  rose  and  made  my 
way  back  to  my  command.  I  was  able  to  report  to  General  Baxter  the  strength  of 
the  enemy  and  we  laid  a  trap  for  them. 

"  The  Ninth  New  York  Infantry  was  left  in  ambuscade  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
and  when  the  rebels  came  on  again,  gave  them  such  a  hot  reception,  that  they  fled 
in  confusion  and  did  not  trouble  us  any  more." 


"THE  CONFEDERATE  PLUCKILY 
HELD  ON  TO  THE  COLORS." 


FORGOT  HE  WAS  A  GENERAL 


IV  A  AJOR-GENERAL  ALEXANDER  S.  WEBB  gained  his  Medal  of  Honor  at  Gettysburg, 
*  *  *  July  3,  1863,  for  an  act  which,  as  General  Meade  said  when  presenting  the 
medal,  had  not  been  surpassed  by  any  general  in  the  field.  He  was  brigadier-general 
of  volunteers,  and  in  command  of  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division  of  the 
Second  Army  Corps,  but  nevertheless  spent  the  whole  day  on  the  firing  line.  He 
remained  with  the  color  guard  of  the  Seventy-second  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  until 
every  man  of  them  had  been  either  killed  or  wounded. 

Noticing  a  company  of  rebels  led  by  General  Armistead  clearing  a  low  stone  wall 
to  attack  the  right  of  the  Sixty-ninth  Pennsylvania,  General  Webb  rushed  down  the 
line  until  he  reached  the  threatened  regiment,  and  directed  its  fire  upon  the  rebels. 


—  225  — 

General  Armistead  and  General  Webb  remained  in  the  fire-swept  zone  between  the 
opposing  forces  until  both  were  wounded.  The  fire  was  so  severe  that  more  than 
half  of  General  Webb's  men  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  but  inspired  by  the  gal 
lantry  of  their  general,  they  stood  their  ground  unflinchingly,  until  they  were  relieved. 
In  this  engagement  General  Webb  received  a  bullet  in  the  groin,  but  in  a  few 
weeks  he  was  at  the  front  once  more. 


I 


T  was  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  even 
ing  of  July  2, 1863,"  Corporal  Harrison 
Clark  writes,  "  as  we  moved  down  into  the 
fight,  the  sun  was  sinking  low  in  the  wrest 
and  the  heavens  were  ablaze  with  its 
splendor,  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
lurid  fires  of  death  towards  which  we 
were  marching.  We  were  halted  amid  a 
heavy  cloud  of  smoke  in  front  of  a  swale 
and  a  new  growth  of  trees.  Through  the 
smoke  covering  the  field  we  could  dimly 
see  the  outlines  of  men  moving  about. 
We  commenced  to  fire,  but  the  word  was 
shouted:  'firing  on  your  own  men,'  and 
the  command  was  given  to  :  '  cease  firing/ 
We  soon  learned  our  mistake. 

"The    color-bearer    at  my  right   fell, 
mortally  wounded,  and  before  the  old  flag 

could  touch  the  ground,  I  caught  it,  and  on  we  rushed  with  loud  cries ;  on,  with 
bullets  whizzing  by  our  ears,  shells  screaming  and  cannon  balls  tearing  the  air,  now 
bursting  above  and  around  us,  laying  many  of  our  comrades  either  low  in  death,  or 
bleeding  with  terrible  wounds.  Most  of  our  color-guard  were  killed  or  wounded. 

"  The  purpose  was  accomplished.  The  enemy  had  failed  to  break  through  our 
lines,  and  Little  Round  Top  and  Cemetery  Hill  were  still  ours.  On  the  return  march, 
as  we  were  passing  the  swale,  where  over  one  hundred  of  our  brave  men  had  fallen 
in  the  space  of  half  an  hour,  the  regiment  was  again  formed  in  line  of  battle,  the 
colonel  ordered  me  to  step  three  paces  in  front  of  the  regiment,  promoted  me  color- 
bearer  and,  by  his  recommendation  to  Congress,  I  was  awarded  a  Medal  of  Honor." 

At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Color-Sergeant  Clark  displayed  rare  bravery  and 
continued  fighting,  though  shot  in  the  leg.  He  was  promoted  lieutenant  on  the 
battlefield. 


HARRISON  CLARK, 

Corporal,  Co.  E,  125th  N.  Y.  Vols. 
Born  at  Chatham.  N.  Y.,  April  10, 1842. 


—  226  — 


FALL  'OUT'  HERE,  EVERY  D  -  -  D  ONE  OF  YOU! 


T 


JOHN  LONERGAN, 

Captain  Co.  A,  lath  Vermont 
Infantry. 

Born  in  Ireland,  April  7, 1839. 


E  battle  of  Gettysburg  had  been  in  progress  the  entire 
day   of  July  1st,  when   early   in   the  evening,   the 
Thirteenth    Vermont    Infantry,  commanded  by   Colonel 
Francis  V.  Randall,  reached   the  battle-field  after  seven 
days  of  steady  marching.    That  night  was  devoted  by  the 
entire  Third  Brigade,  under  General  Stannard,  to  much 
needed  rest.    On  the  following  day,  with  the  battle  re 
newed,  the  Vermont  boys  were  called  upon  for  heavy 
work  and  they  responded  bravely  all  along  the  line.     In 
the  afternoon  a  body  of  Confederates  was  seen  dragging  oft' 
a  battery  that  had  just  been  captured  from  General  Sickles' 
forces  and  just  at  that  particular  time,  batteries  were  needed. 
At  this  juncture  General  Hancock  rode  up,  and,  seemingly 
addressing  the  entire  regiment,  asked  :     "  Can  you  Vermont 
men  take  those  guns  ? "     The  commander  of  the  regiment, 
Colonel  Randall,  replied  :     "  We'll  try,  General."     Then  fol 
lowed  the  command  forming  five  companies  for  a  charge,  then  the  charge.     Com 
pany  A  was  in  the  lead  and  in  command  of   Captain  John  Lonergan,  who  describes 
the  succeeding  events  as  follows  : 

"  My  company  reached  the  guns  first,  and  placing  my  hand  upon  the  nearest  gun, 
I  ordered  the  enemy  to  surrender.  All  this  time  the  whole  regiment  was  under 
severe  fire,  with  men  falling  all  along  the  entire  charge  ;  but  we  reached  the  guns 
comparatively  together  and  in  good  form.  The  Confederates  obeyed  my  summons 
to  surrender,  after  which  my  men  lay  down  their  guns  and  taking  hold  of  the 
wheels  of  the  gun  carriages,  began  moving  them  to  a  new  position  where  they  could 
be  utilized. 

"Meanwhile  I  noticed  that  we  were  sustaining  much  damage  from  firing  that 
came  from  the  Codories  House  in  our  front.  And  so  ordering  my  command  to  pick 
up  their  guns,  we  made  a  charge  on  the  house.  We  quickly  surrounded  the  build 
ing,  the  men  at  once  covering  the  windows  and  doors  with  their  guns,  so  that  no 
man  should  escape.  Then  I  stepped  to  the  front  door,  and  knocking  it  in,  I  ordered: 
'Surrender !  Fall  out  here,  every  damned  one  of  you  ! ' 

"My  order  was  obeyed  almost  instantly,  for  the  Confederates  came  tumbling  out, 
led  by  their  commanding  officer,  until  we  had  eighty-three  men  as  prisoners.  The 
officer  in  command  handed  me  his  sword  and  each  man  laid  down  his  gun  until  I 
had  a  considerably  larger  number  of  men  as  prisoners,  than  I  had  in  my  entire  com 
mand.  When  all  was  over  for  the  day  General  Stannard  sent  for  me,  and  upon  my 
arrival,  he  said  :  '  Captain,  you  did  well  to-day,  but  do  you  know  you  violated  all 
military  laws  in  capturing  those  prisoners  in  the  Codories  House  ? ' 


—  231  — 


EDWARD  M.   KNOX, 

2d  Lieutenant,  Fifteenth  Ind.  X.  Y.,  Lt.  Battery. 
Born  in  New  York  City. 


batteries,  which  was  doing  heavy  execution 
on  the  Union  line  of  battle.  This  artillery 
duel  was  of  brief  duration.  The  enemy  was 
compelled  to  withdraw.  A  heavy  column  of 
infantry  was  now  advancing  on  the  brave  New 
Yorkers,  who  then  directed  their  fire  on  the 
advancing  columns,  repulsing  the  rebels.  A 
second  attack  was  made  and  for  a  second  time 
the  enemy  was  obliged  to  retreat  before  the 
deadly  fire  of  the  well  served  battery.  When 
a  third  attack  was  made  and  frustrated,  the 
battery's  ammunition  was  exhausted  and  Cap 
tain  Hart  withdrew  to  a  distance  of  about  one 
mile  in  good  order. 

Lieutenant  Knox's  behavior  during  these 
struggles  was  admirable  and  highly  appreciated 
by  his  captain,  who  pays  him  the  above  men 
tioned  tribute.  The  lieutenant  himself  says 
of  his  experience  on  that  eventful  day  : 

"  My  battery  galloped  into  Peach  Orchard,  by  order  of  General  Hunt,  who,  point 
ing  in  the  direction  of  the  orchard,  said:  'Go  in  there.  Rush!'  I  was  junior 
officer,  and  with  Captain  Hart,  the  only  officer  there.  As  we  went  in,  the  captain 
shouted  :  '  Lieutenant,  you  fight  the  right  section.  I  will  look  out  for  the  left.'  My 
speed  had  carried  me  fully  100  yards  ahead  of  the  artillery  line  on  the  left  (the  Sixth 
and  Ninth  Massachusetts  Batteries,)  and  of  my  own  left  section.  The  Confederates 
thought  they  had  my  guns  and  made  a  dash  for  them.  As  they  came,  I  let  go  both 
pieces  with  double  canister,  and  as  I  did  so,  I  yelled  to  my  boys  to  lay  down  and 
pretend  that  they  were  done  for.  And  thus,  not  heeding  us,  the  '  Johnnies '  swept 
through  my  section  to  meet  a  charge  from  the  support  in  our  rear, — the  Seventy- 
second  New  York  Infantry — I  think.  Then,  repulsed  and  driven  back,  they  came 
back  more  rapidly  than  they  came  in.  After  they  had  again  passed  over  us, 
we  got  up  and  with  our  prolonges  and  the  assistance  of  the  infantry  boys,  hauled 
our  guns  back. 

"  I  lost  seven  men  and  eleven  horses  ;  the  battery,  eight  men  and  thirteen  horses. 
I  wras  myself  severely  wounded  in  this  action  ;  and  the  next  day,  at  the  time  of 
Pickett's  charge  on  our  front,  I  was  shot,  a  round  musket  ball  passing  through  both 
hips.  Although  the  latter  wound  made  me  an  invalid  for  the  next  eighteen  months, 
I  received  my  commission  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  Fourteenth  Independent  New 
York  Light  Battery.  I  was  never  physically  able,  however,  to  be  mustered  or  serve 
thereafter." 


—  232  — 


THE  STRUGGLE  AT  THE  "BLOODY  ANGLE' 


IT  was  during  the  repulse  of  Pickett's  charge  at  Gettysburg,  that  Sergeant  Frederick 
Fuger  of  Battery  A,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  displayed  the  gallantry  for 
which  he  was  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor. 

The  battery,  commanded  by  First  Lieutenant  A.  H.  Gushing,  was  posted  behind  a 
stone  wall  in  what  afterward  became  known  as  the  "Bloody  Angle." 

At  1  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  July  3d,  the  enemy's  artillery,  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Armistead,  opened  along  the  whole  line,  and  for  an  hour  and  a  quarter  the  artillery 
brigade  of  the  Federal  Second  Corps  was  subjected  to  a  very  warm  artillery  fire. 

At  first  the  Union  batteries  made  no  reply,  till  the  fire  of  the  enemy  became  too 
terrible,  when  they  returned  it,  till  all  their  ammunition  except  canister  had  been 
expended.  Within  less  than  two  hours  the  enemy  had  silenced  the  Rhode  Island 
battery  and  all  the  guns  but  one  of  Cushing's  battery.  They  then  followed  up  this 
concentrated  fire  upon  the  Union  lines  by  an  infantry  attack. 

At  three  o'clock  they  left  the  woods  in  line  of  battle  and,  under  a  fire  from 
Wheeler's  Battery  and  Cushing's  gun,  formed  in  front  of  the  several  lines  of  battle 
and  slowly  but  surely  advanced  for  the  attack.  Steadily  they  approached  the  stone 
wall.  General  Armistead  with  several  hundred  of  his  Virginia  troops  charged  across 
the  stone  wall  and  came  directly  upon  Cushing's  battery.  Double  and  triple  charges 
of  canister  were  poured  into  the  ranks  of  the  advancing  enemy,  making  frightful 
gaps  in  their  lines,  and  by  the  time  they  had  reached  the  battery,  there  was  not 
much  left  of  them. 

The  encounter  was  one  of  the  bloodiest  of  the  war.  In  the  very  middle  of  the 
battery  the  fight  was  continued.  Lieutenant  Gushing  and  two  officers  were  instantly 
killed.  Sergeant  Fuger,  the  only  remaining  officer,  was  left  to  conduct  the  battery's 
struggle.  He  bravely  held  his  ground  and  aided  materially  to  the  final  defeat  of 
the  daring  rebels.  During  the  fighting  around  the  guns,  General  Armistead  fell 
mortally  wounded,  and  almost  his  whole  command  was  either  killed  or  wounded. 

Battery  A's  loss  was  forty-five  out  of  ninety-three  men  killed  and  wounded  and 
eighty-three  out  of  ninety  horses  killed.  The  guns  of  the  battery  were  turned  over 
to  the  ordnance  department  the  next  day  as  unserviceable. 

Sergeant  Fuger's  conduct  at  this  engagement  was  highly  praised  by  his  superior 
officers  and  found  immediate  recognition  by  a  promotion  to  the  rank  of  a  second 
lieutenant. 


«4gs^ 

*'^5 


233  — 


THE  DELAY  WAS  FATAL 


JOHN  M.  PIPES, 

Sergeant.  Co.  A.  140th  Penn.  Vol. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 


'TVo  gallant  actions,  one  performed  at  Gettysburg  and 
the  other  a  year  later,  are  thus  recalled  by  Sergeant 
John  M.  Pipes  of  the  One   hundred   and  fortieth   Penn 
sylvania  Volunteers. 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  July  3,  1863,  our  brigade  charged 
across  a  wheat  field  and  engaged  the  enemy  in  the  woods 
south  of  it.  Taking  advantage  of  our  exposed  position  far 
in  advance  of  our  line,  the  enemy,  under  General  Long- 
street,  poured  a  deadly  fire  upon  our  flank.  Our  little 
brigade  had  lost  more  than  half  its  men  and  nearly  all  its 
officers,  and  had  begun  to  waver  and  fall  back  before  I 
could  fully  realize  the  situation.  Standing  at  the  right  of 
my  company,  a  step  or  two  in  front,  firing  as  rapidly  as  I 
could,  I  saw  that  most  of  our  men  were  getting  across  the 
field  toward  the  main  line,  while  the  Twenty-fourth 
Georgia  Infantry,  crossing  from  the  woods,  was  close 
upon  us.  Lieutenant  J.  J.  Purman,  of  my  company,  was 
standing  near  me. 

"The  question  confronted  us:  'shall  we  be  captured  or  take  the  slim  chance  of 
crossing  that  field  ? '  Of  course  we  took  the  chance.  We  had  hardly  started  when  a 
wounded  comrade  pleaded  to  be  taken  off  the  field,  as  he  could  not  rise.  The  rebels, 
who  were  very  close  upon  us,  called:  'Halt,  you  damned  Yankees,  halt.'  We  how 
ever,  carried  this  comrade  some  thirty  or  forty  steps  and  placed  him  behind  some 
large  boulders  where  he  would  have  protection  from  the  fire  from  both  sides,  and 
from  being  trampled  upon. 

"This  occupied  but  a  few  moments,  but  the  delay  was  fatal  to  our  attempt  to 
cross  the  wheat  field.  We  had  just  started  on  a  good  double-quick,  when  Lieutenant 
Purman  called  out:  'I  am  hit !'  I  was  then  but  a  few  steps  from  him,  and  the  next 
moment  I  received  a  wound  in  the  leg,  and  replied:  'I  am  wounded  too.'  Realizing 
that  I  could  not  aid  the  lieutenant,  having  only  one  sound  leg,  I  thought  'goodbye 
comrades,'  and,  using  my  gun  for  a  crutch,  commenced  to  hop  off  the  battle-field, 
but  had  only  gotten  a  few  paces,  when  to  my  surprise,  I  found  myself  right  among 
the  Confederates. 

"Our  flank  was  captured,  taken  to  the  rear,  and  put  in  an  old  barn,  then  used  by 
the  enemy  as  a  temporary  hospital.  We  remained  in  their  hands  until  the  next 
morning,  when  our  forces  advanced  and  recaptured  us,  taking  a  good  number  of 
Confederates  at  the  same  time.  I  was  carried  on  a  stretcher  to  the  tents  of  the 
Second  Corps'  hospital,  established  in  the  woods,  where  I  found  Lieutenant  Purman, 
who  had  been  wounded  by  my  side,  and  whose  leg  had  been  amputated. 


—  234  — 

"ON  AUGUST  24,  1864,  at  Ream's  Station  Virginia,  two  divisions  of  Hancock's 
Corps  having  torn  up  and  destroyed  several  miles  of  railroad,  a  detail  was  sent  out 
on  picket  duty  for  the  night.  Being  captain  and  ranking  officer,  the  command 
devolved  upon  me,"  Captain  Pipes  narrates  in  describing  his  second  experience.  "We 
were  on  duty  all  night,  and  the  next  day  during  the  fight  the  enemy  attempted  to 
flank  us,  causing  my  command  to  become  uneasy  and  fear  capture.  I  saw  clearly 
that  to  remain  meant  capture  with  serious  loss,  so  finally  assumed  responsibility, 
and  moved  my  men  by  the  left  flank  back  across  the  railroad,  ordering  them  to  lie 
down  there  while  I  reconnoitered. 


"I  USED  MY  GUN  FOR  A  CRUTCH." 

"I  discovered  that  our  forces  had  left  their  positions,  so  I  returned  and  led  my 
command  at  the  double-quick  to  a  depression,  where  I  ordered  them  to  lie  down 
again.  I  had  been  there  but  a  few  minutes,  when  a  battery  of  the  enemy  unlim- 
bered  and  opened  a  terrific  fire  upon  us.  They  soon  had  the  range  and  would  have 
destroyed  us,  had  not  I  ordered  the  command  back  up  the  hill  at  a  lively  gait.  Near 
the  top  an  officer  came  galloping  up  to  me  and  said:  'Captain  Pipes,  if  you  will 
take  in  your  men  on  the  left  and  help  check  the  enemy  in  their  flank  movement,  I'll 
see  that  you  will  get  credit.' 


—  235 


"Moving  some  distance  I  deployed  my  men  as  skirmishers  and  led  them  in  what 
was  supposed  to  be  the  direction  of  the  command.  Then  I  ordered  them  to  move 
forward,  taking  care  to  avail  themselves  of  any  protection  they  might  find.  Shortly 
afterward  the  command  was  given,  'cease  firing'  to  enable  us  to  discover  the  situa 
tion  of  our  men  and  that  of  the  enemy.  While  looking  out  under  the  smoke,  when 
the  fire  of  the  enemy  had  abated,  I  received  a  wound  through  the  right  arm,  shatter 
ing  it  from  near  the  shoulder  down  to  the  elbow.  The  fight  at  this  time  seemed  to 
be  nearly  over,  and  with  the  assistance  of  two  comrades,  I  was  able  to  lead  my  com 
mand  back  to  the  woods,  where  I  ran  across  my  regiment.  My  ride  in  an  ambulance 
for  ten  miles  that  night  was  a  memorable  one.  The  dangling  arm  was  amputated 
the  next  day  at  City  Point,  Va." 

CAPTURED  FOUR  REGIMENTAL  FLAGS 


T 


EDMUND  RICE, 

Major,  19th  Mass.  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attained:    Lieut.-Col 


HE  Nineteenth  Massachusetts    Infantry  was  ex 
posed   to  the  full   force   of   Lee's   artillery  fire 
during    the    afternoon   of    July   3d,   at    Gettysburg. 
After  the  suspension  of  that  fire,  it  was  advanced  and 
obliqued   to   the  left,  and   placed   in   part  behind    the 
famous  "Pile  of  Rails."      When  Longstreet's  infantry 
advance  had  fully  developed,  the   regiment  was  with 
drawn   from   that  position   and    momentarily   held   in 
reserve.     About  two  or   three  minutes  after  reaching 
the  reserve  position,  a  break  in  General   Webb's   Bri 
gade  occurred,  and  the  enemy's  battle  flags  appeared  in 
the  gap  made  by  the  break.     That  was  the  crisis  of  the 
battle  on  that  wing  of  the  Union  Army.     Major  Edmund 
Rice,  of  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  Infantry,  fully 
appreciated  the  danger  of  the  situation. 

"Boys,"  he  shouted  to  his  men,  "follow  me !"  And  away  he  dashed  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Confederate  battle  flags.  The  "boys"  did  not  desert  their  major,  but 
joined  in  the  race  to  a  man.  They  were  followed  by  a  part  of  the  Seventh  Michigan 
and  Forty-second  New  York  Infantry.  Major  Rice  kept  the  lead  and  was  the  first 
one  to  come  in  contact  with  the  surprised  enemy.  The  clash  of  the  two  bodies  of 
troops  was  fierce.  Brave  Major  Rice  was  among  the  first  ones  wounded,  which  fact 
however  did  not  prevent  him  from  maintaining  his  command.  The  desperate  hand- 
to-hand  struggle  which  his  fearless  initiative  had  inaugurated,  gave  General  Webb's 
Brigade  time  to  rally,  expel  the  enemy  from  the  gap  in  the  Union  line,  and  decide 
the  battle  in  favor  of  the  Union  arms.  Major  Rice's  regiment  lost  three-fourths  of 
its  force  during  the  fight,  but  the  victorious  survivors  returned  with  the  captured 
colors  of  four  rebel  regiments. 


•236  — 


SAW  THE  REBEL  FLAG  AND  TOOK  IT 


BENJAMIN  H.  JELLISON, 

Sergeant,  Co.  C,  19th  Massachusetts  Infantry. 


OERGEANT  BENJAMIN  H.  JELLISON  of  Company  C, 
*~  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  Infantry  has  an 
interesting  story  to  tell  of  his  experience  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  says  : 

"We  arrived  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg  the 
night  of  the  first  day  of  July.  The  next  day  we 
were  ordered  to  the  left,  in  the  rear  of  the  Third 
Corps  to  rally  it,  as  it  had  been  broken  and  was 
coming  in  in  bad  shape.  We  were  too  late,  and 
our  charge,  made  in  an  attempt  to  save  the  bat 
tery  in  front  of  us,  was  in  vain.  The  rebels  got 
there  first,  turned  the  battery  on  us,  so  that  we 
were  forced  to  fall  back.  As  my  company  was 
the  sixth  in  line,  we  were  left  in  charge  of  the 

colors.  In  retreating,  I  was  crowded  into  the  color-guard,  and  soon  found  myself 
in  front  of  the  colors.  Presently  the  color-bearer  was  shot ;  I  picked  up  the  colors 
and  was  at  once  made  sergeant. 

"  On  the  third  day  we  lay  on  Cemetery  Ridge,  and  while  the  officers  were  eating 
their  dinner  in  the  rear  of  the  colors,  the  first  shell  that  the  rebels  fired  went  into 
the  mess  and  killed  Lieutenant  Robertson .  The  next  shell  hit  one  of  our  gun  stacks. 
Then  the  colonel  ordered  to  break  stacks.  The  dance  now  commenced.  The  Nine 
teenth  Massachusetts  was  supporting  the  New  York  Independent  Battery,  which  by 
this  time  had  lost  all  its  men  except  the  captain,  one  lieutenant  and  one  sergeant. 
The  captain  came  into  our  regiment  bare-headed,  with  both  hands  in  his  hair,  and 
called  out :  '  For  God's  sake,  men,  volunteer  to  work  these  guns ;  don't  let  this 
battery  be  silent.' 

"  I  was  lying  on  the  ground,  the  colors  by  my  side,  and  Lieutenant  Shackly  next 
to  me.  Shackly  said :  'Come,  Jellison,  let's  go  and  help,  we  might  just  as  well  get 
killed  there  as  here.' 

"  '  All  right,'  said  I,  and  so  I  carried  my  ammunition  from  the  limber  to  the  guns. 
The  colonel  saw  me  and  ordered  me  back  to  the  colors.  The  shelling  had  now 
stopped,  and  an  old  general  riding  past,  called  to  us :  '  Get  into  line,  boys,  they  are 
coming.'  Upon  that,  the  colonel  ordered  me  on  the  ridge  and  gave  orders  to  rally 
on  the  colors.  We  then  charged  to  the  fence  near  by,  and  some  got  over. 

"  Lieutenant  Shackly  was  again  at  my  side.  '  Ben,'  he  remarked  this  time,  '  see 
the  rebel  flag  ?  Let's  get  it.'  He  pointed  to  our  front,  and  the  next  moment  I  lost 
him.  I  rushed  forward  and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  flag,  and  besides  assisted  in 
taking  quite  a  number  of  prisoners.  With  the  Stars  and  Stripes  flying  over  my  head, 
and  carrying  the  captured  flag,  I  retreated." 


Painted  by  P.  Wilhelmi. 


THE    STORMING    OF    VICKSBURG. 


—  239  — 


A  DASHING  CHARGE  AT  GETTYSBURG. 


T^VURING  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  on  the  after- 
*-^  noon  of  July  3d,  General  Kilpatrick  ordered 
General  Farnsworth  to  charge  on  the  right  flank  of 
the  enemy  in  front  of  both  Round  Tops,  and  desig 
nated  Major  William  Wells  to  lead  the  Second 
Battalion  of  the  First  Vermont  Cavalry  in  the 
attack. 

The  charge  was  made :  Major  Wells  at  the  head 
of  his  brave  Vermonters  with  General  Farnsworth 
riding  by  his  side.  At  the  outset,  the  Union  forces 
suffered  a  severe  loss.  General  Farnsworth  was 
struck  by  a  ball  and  instantly  killed.  There  was 
no  interruption  in  the  attack,  however.  The  death 
of  the  gallant  general  only  served  to  stimulate 
Major  Wells  and  his  men  to  still  more  determined  action. 

With  disregard  to  a  most  galling  fire  the  major  led  his  batallion  over  the  stone 
wall  against  the  superior  hostile  force  and  drove  the  foe  in  all  directions.  He  fol 
lowed  in  pursuit,  cleared  another  wall  and  dashed  across  a  field  swept  by  the  rebel 
batteries,  piercing  the  enemy's  second  line.  A  fresh  regiment  of  rebels,  sent  from 
the  right  to  intercept  some  retreating  Union  troops,  was  encountered  on  a  little  hill. 
Then  there  was  a  desperate  fight  for  the  possession  of  the  hill.  Major  Wells  carried 
it,  and  took  the  greater  part  of  the  rebel  regiment  prisoners.  It  was  a  wonderful 
charge,  crowned  with  brilliant  success,  and  showed  Major  Wells  to  be  a  most  dash 
ing  cavalry  officer. 


WILLIAM  WELLS, 

Major,  1st  Vermont  Cavalry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Bvt.-Maj.-Gen.,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  in  Waterbury,  Vt.,  1838. 


THE  CHARGE  WAS  MADE  WITH  A  MIGHTY  SHOUT. 


WHEELOCK  G.  VEAZEY,  shortly  after  his  promotion  from  the  Third  Vermont  to 
the  colonelcy  of  the  Sixteenth  Vermont,  was  carried  by  the  tide  of  war  to 
the  famous  Pennsylvania  battlefield,  where  his  regiment  attained  a  reputation 
second  to  none.  This  regiment  occupied,  on  the  third  day  of  Gettysburg,  the  front 
of  Stannard's  Brigade,  in  the  left  center  of  the  Union  line.  In  this  advanced  position 
it  received  the  first  shock  of  Pickett's  charge.  It  was  a  tremendous  attack,  but  the 
assailants  were  forced  to  surge  off  to  the  right,  and  the  regiment  commanded  by 
Colonel  Veazey,  wheeled  out  and  attacked  them  on  the  flank  as  they  went  by  with 
withering  effect,  and  capturing  many  prisoners 


—  240  — 

At  this  moment,  while  the  Sixteenth  was  partly  broken,  another  column — Wil- 
cox's  and  Perry's  Brigades — came  rushing  along  toward  its  flank  and  rear.  Colonel 
Veazey  quickly  grasped  the  situation.  He  explained  his  plans  to  General  Stannard. 

"Veazey,"  cried  the  general,  "  your  men  will  do  almost  anything,  but  the  men 
don't  live  this  side  of  hell,  that  can  be  made  to  charge  down  there."  But  in  shorter 
time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  the  regiment  had  straightened  out,  reformed,  and  made 
another  change  of  front  in  the  very  center  of  the  field,  where  the  battle  raged  in 
its  greatest  fury,  and  men  were  falling  every  instant. 

"  I  stepped  to  the  front,"  says  Colonel  Veazey,  "  and  called  upon  the  men  to 
follow.  With  a  mighty  shout  the  rush  forward  was  made,  and,  before  the  enemy 
could  change  his  front,  we  had  struck  his  flank,  and  swept  down  the  line,  and  again 
captured  a  great  number  of  prisoners.  In  the  two  charges  my  regiment  captured 
three  stan  Is  of  colors.  The  last  charge  brought  a  heavy  artillery  fire  on  us,  but  we 
lost  only  150  out  of  400  because  the  rebels  never  accurately  found  our  range." 


USURPED  THE  GENERAL'S 
AUTHORITY. 


D 


JOHN  B.  FASSITT, 

Captain  Co.  F,  23d  Pennsylvania  Infantry 

Highest  rank  attained:  Major. 
Born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Oct.  26, 1830. 


the  battle  of  Gettysburg  many  were  the 
exigencies  and  tremendous  responsibilities  that 
confronted   the  general   officers  in  each   army.      Tn 
most  instances,  also,  they  were  met  and  disposed  of 
with  all  loyalty,  patriotism  and  bravery. 

It  was  on  the  day  before  the  demonstration  known 
as  Pickett's  charge,  that  Captain  John  B.  Fassitt  of 
Company  F,  Twenty -third  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  dis 
played  his  courage,  his  quick  mind,  action  and  will 
ingness  to  shoulder  great  responsibility.  On  the  day 
of  the  Peach  Orchard  struggle,  shortly  after  Major- 
General  Daniel  E.  Sickles  had  received  the  wound  which  later  cost  him  a  leg,  that 
Battery  I,  of  the  Fifth  United  States  Artillery,  was  captured  by  the  Confederates. 
Captain  Fassitt,  at  the  time  was  senior  aide  to  General  Birney,  who,  General  Sickles 
having  been  carried  off  the  field,  was  in  command  of  the  Third  Army  Corps.  Fassitt 
had  just  completed  the  work  of  reforming  Humphrey's  Division  on  Cemetery  Ridge 
after  it  had  been  driven  back  from  Blodensburg  Road,  and  was  returning  to  the  left 
line  to  report  to  General  Birney,  when  he  saw  Lieutenant  Samuel  Peoples  of  Battery 
I,  standing  on  a  rock  looking  to  the  front.  Thereupon  Captain  Fassitt  asked  the 
lieutenant  why  he  was  not  with  his  battery,  and  the  lieutenant  answered  :  "Because 


—  241  — 

it  has  just  been  captured."  And  then  pointing  toward  his  battery,  the  lieutenant 
continued:  "And  if  those  Confederates  are  able  to  serve  my  guns,  those  troops  you 
have  just  been  forming  on  the  ridge,  won't  stay  there  a  minute." 

Captain  Fassitt,  instantly  comprehending  the  fact  that  the  battery  could  direct 
an  enfilading  fire  on  Cemetery  Ridge,  and  recognizing  that  ridge  as  the  key  to  the 
Federal  position,  he  rode  rapidly  to  the  nearest  troops — the  Thirty-ninth  New  York 
Infantry — and  ordered  Major  Hillebrandt,  the  commanding  officer,  to  retake  the 
battery. 

"By  whose   orders?"  asked   the   major. 

The  captain  replied :    "By  order  of  General  Birney." 

"I  am  in  General  Hancock's  Corps,"  responded  the  major. 

To  this  the  captain  said  :  "  Then  I  order  you  to  take  those  guns,  by  order  of 
General  Hancock." 


"THE  CAPTAIN 
STRUCK  UP  WITH 
HIS  SABRE." 


At  this,  Ma 
jor  Hillebrandt 
moved   his  regi 
ment  by  flank  with 
superb  alacrity,  and  when 

opposite  the  battery,  he  ordered  a  charge.  Captain  Fassitt  not  only  helped  to  move 
the  regiment  by  the  flank,  but,  being  the  only  mounted  officer,  also  assisted  in  the 
assault.  The  Confederates  were  not  willing  to  give  up  the  battery  and  position 
without  a  struggle  and  the  fight  was  a  three  one.  As  the  Federal  line  reached  the 
Confederates,  one  of  them  seized  the  bridle  of  Captain  Fassitt's  horse  while  another 
raised  his  musket  fair  into  the  face  of  the  mounted  man.  The  captain  struck  up 
with  his  sabre  just  in  time  to  divert  the  musket  ball  so  that  it  passed  through  the 


—  242  — 


visor  of  his  cap,  and  the  next  instant  a  member  of  the  Thirty-ninth  ran  his  bayonet 
through  the  man  who  delivered  the  shot,  while  Fassitt  shot  down  the  man  holding 
the  bridle  of  his  horse.  Again  free,  the  captain  went  on  with  Major  Hillebrandt's 
troops,  until  they  had  secured  Cemetery  Hill  for  Hancock's  use  in  repulsing 
Pickett. 


WHERE  DISOBEDIENCE  WAS  A 
VIRTUE 


WILLIAM  E.  MILLER, 

Captain,  Troop  H,  3rd  Penn. 

Cavalry. 

Born  at  West  Hill,  Cumberland 
Co.,  Penn. 


CEDERAL  and  Confederate  cavalry  were  hotly  engaged 
during  the  last  day's  fighting  at  Gettysburg,  July  3d. 
There  were  skirmishes,  charges,  counter-charges  from 
noon  till  nightfall  during  that  most  eventful  day.  Some 
times  it  would  seem  as  if  the  enemy  would  gain  an  advan 
tage,  when  the  Union  cavalry  would  rally  and  with 
renewed  vigor  wrest  from  them  the  victory  which  the 
rebels  believed  to  be  already  within  their  grasp.  And 
thus  the  fighting  continued  for  hours  with  varying  success, 
until  at  dark  the  Confederate  cavalry  retired  to  a  position 
behind  their  artillery,  leaving  the  Federals  masters  of  the 
contested  field. 

" Heavy  skirmishing,"  says  General  Gregg,  referring  to  this  cavalry  fight,  "was 
maintained  by  the  Third  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  with  the  enemy  and  was  con 
tinued  until  nightfall.  During  the  engagement  a  portion  of  this  regiment  made  a 
very  handsome  and  successful  charge  upon  one  of  the  enemy's  regiments." 

General  Gregg's  flattering  mention   of   the  "handsome  charge,"  refers  to  the 
gallant  feat  of  Captain  William  E.  Miller  of  Troop  H,  who  by  this  deed  became  the 
hero  of  his  regiment  and  the  recipient  of  the  precious  Medal  of  Honor. 
The  captain  himself  describes  the  charge  as  follows: 

"Our  regiment  had  been  ordered  forward,  and  my  squadron  was  deployed  along 
the  edge  of  the  woods,  with  orders  to  hold  that  position.  We  had  nothing  to  do  with 
the  first  part  of  the  fight,  but  when  a  Virginia  regiment  approached,  we  opened  fire 
on  them  and  succeeded  in  holding  them  in  check.  A  flank  fire  also  opened  on  them, 
and  they  were  obliged  to  fall  back  on  their  main  body. 

"Suddenly  there  appeared,  moving  towards  us,  a  mass  of  cavalry  formed  in  close 
column  squadrons.  They  rode  with  well  aligned  front  and  steady  reins,  their  pol 
ished  sabres  glittering  in  the  sun.  Shell  and  shrapnel  tore  through  their  ranks,  but 
they  closed  up  the  gaps  and  came  on  as  steadily  as  ever.  As  they  drew  nearer,  our 


—  248  — 


artillery-men  substituted  canister  for  shrapnel,  and  horses  and  men  went  down  by 
scores.  Still  they  came  on,  and  our  cavalry  fell  into  line  and  prepared  for  a  charge. 

"As  the  columns  approached  each  other,  each  increased  its  pace  until  they 
came  together  with  a  crash  like  the  falling  of  timber.  So  violent  was  the  collision 
that  many  of  the  horses  were  turned  over,  crushing  their  riders  under  them.  The 
clashing  of  sabres,  firing  of  pistols,  and  the  cries  of  the  combatants  filled  the  air. 

"  My  squadron  was  still  deployed,  and  I  was  standing  with  Lieutenant  William 
Brooke-Rawle  on  a  little  rising  ground  in  front.  Seeing  that  the  situation  was 
becoming  critical,  I  said  to  him:  'I  have  been  ordered  to  hold  this  position,  but  I 
will  order  a  charge  if  you  will  back  me  up  in  case  I  am  court-martialed  for  diso- 


"WE  BROKE  THROUGH  THE  CONFEDERATE  COLUMN." 

bedience.'  The  lieutenant  enthusiastically  promised  that  he  would  stand  by  me.  As 
soon  as  the  line  was  formed,  our  men  fired  a  volley  from  their  carbines,  drew  their 
sabres,  and  charged,  striking  the  enemy's  left  flank  about  two-thirds  down  the  column. 
"  We  broke  through  the  Confederate  column,  cut  off  the  rear  portion  and  drove 
it  back ;  but  in  the  charge  my  men  became  somewhat  scattered,  and  were  even 
unable  to  capture  an  unsupported  rebel  battery  which  was  standing  only  100  yards 
away.  The  flank  attack  demoralized  the  Confederate  column,  and  it  was  driven 
back  to  its  former  position,  leaving  us  in  possession  of  the  field." 


—  244  — 


A  SMALL  PARTY'S 

BRAVE  DEED 


'"THE  brunt  of  the  Confederate  onslaught,  on 
*  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
was  directed  against  General  Sickles'  extreme 
left,  held  by  General  Ward  of  General  Birney's 
Division,  whose  three  brigades  extended  their 
line  from  the  Round  Tops  across  the  Devil's 
Den  to  and  beyond  the  Peach  Orchard.  At 
first  the  Federals,  after  a  bitter  contest,  were 
forced  to  yield  to  the  superior  strength  of  the 
enemy  and  retreated.  Then  the  Union  troops 
received  re-enforcements  and  made  a  stand 
against  the  advancing  Confederates  near  the 
Little  Round  Top.  Here  a  most  terrible  strug 
gle  took  place.  At  all  points  the  ground  was 
contested  stubbornly.  The  odds  were  against 
the  Federals,  but  in  the  face  of  heavy  losses 
they  fought  with  a  bravery  rarely  equalled.  In 
this  contest  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Reserves 
was  an  important  factor  in  General  Birney's 
Division  to  which  it  belonged.  It  not  only 
distinguished  itself  with  the  balance  of  the 
Union  Army  during  the  heat  of  the  battle,  but 
some  of  its  individual  members  performed  deeds 
of  daring  and  valor  which  contributed  toward 
the  final  success  of  that  day  as  far  as  the  attack 
on  this  wing  of  the  Union  Army  was  concerned. 
No  more  conspicuous  deed  was  there,  how 
ever,  than  that  which  was  performed  by  Ser 
geant  John  W.  Hart  of  Company  D,  Sergeant 
George  W.  Mears  of  Company  A,  Corporals 
J.  Levi  Roush  and  Chester  S.  Furman,  the 
former  of  Company  D,  the  latter  of  Company  A, 
and  two  others,  all  members  of  the  afore 
mentioned  gallant  regiment.  The  occasion 
was  this  :  As  the  battle  was  raging  at  its 

height,  the  Union  troops  stationed  near  Devil's  Den,  suffered  especially  from 
a  concentrated  and  well-directed  fire,  which  was  difficult  at  first  to  locate.  It  was 
finally,  however,  traced  to  a  small  log  house  nearby.  Here  a  number  of  sharpshooters 


JOHN  W.  HART, 

.-ergeant.  Co.  I),r>th  Pa.  Reserves. 
Born  in  Germany. 

J.  L.  ROUSH, 

Corporal,  Co.  D,  Oth  Pa.  Reserves. 
Born  in  Woodlmry,  Pa.,  Feb.  11, 1838. 

GEORGE  W.  MEARS, 

x'mcuiit,  Co.  A.  Gth  Pa.  Reserves. 

Born  in  Bloomsburg,  Pa. 

CHESTER  S.  FURMAN, 

Corporal,  Co.  A,  Oth  Pa.  Reserves. 

Born  in  Bloomsburg,  Pa.,  Feb.  14, 1842. 


—  245  — 

had  fortified  themselves  and  were  pouring  their  volleys  into  the  Union  ranks  with 
deadly  accuracy.  The  necessity  to  stop  this  source  of  destruction  became  imperative. 
The  colonel  of  the  Sixth  Pennsylvania  Reserves  placed  his  regiment  at  the  disposal 
of  the  commanders  to  accomplish  this  task.  His  offer  being  accepted,  the  colonel  at 
once  asked  for  volunteers.  Pointing  to  the  log  house  in  the  distance  he  said :  "  Are 
any  of  you  men  willing  to  drive  those  rebels  out  of  that  place  there  ? "  He  did  not 
have  to  wait  long  for  a  reply.  The  six  men  mentioned  at  once  stepped  forward  and 
volunteered.  The  colonel's  face  beamed  with  pride  and  satisfaction  as  he  saw  the 


DEMANDED  THEIR  SURRENDER. 


brave  fellows  respond  to  his  call.  Subsequently  the  six  made  an  attack  upon  the  log 
house.  Cautiously  and  slowly  they  crept  up  to  the  place,  but  did  not  get  very  far. 
before  they  were  discovered.  Then  they  made  a  dash,  a  run,  a  break  for  the  hut,  all 
the  while  facing  a  heavy  fire  from  the  rebels.  However,  they  escaped  injury  and 
reached  the  log  house  unhurt.  They  knocked  down  the  barricades  at  the  door  with 
the  butts  of  their  rifles,  and  then  with  levelled  guns  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
men  on  the  inside.  The  Pennsylvanians  gave  their  opponents  no  time  for  hesitation 
or  doubt.  Determination  was  written  on  the  face  of  each  of  the  brave  six.  The 
alternative  was:  immediate  surrender  or  death.  The  rebels  preferred  the  former 
and  thus  became  the  prisoners  of  the  gallant  little  band  of  Union  heroes. 


—  246  — 


A  BAYONET  CHARGE  THE  LAST  HOPE 


JOSHUA  L.  CHAMBERLAIN, 

Colonel,  2()th  Maine  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Brig.-Gen.,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  in.  Brewer,  Maine,  Sept.  8,  1828. 


\TEVER    had   a   bayonet    charge    more    effective 
*  ^     results  than  had  that  of  the  Twentieth  Maine 
Volunteers,  on  the  slope  of  Little  Hound  Top,  at 
Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863.     It  not   only  saved  the 
position  of  the  Union  troops,  but  compelled  General 
Lee   to   change    his  whole    plan   of    attack.     The 
incident  is  thus   described   by  Colonel   Joshua  L. 
Chamberlain,    commanding     the     Twentieth 
Maine : 

"  My  regiment  held  the  extreme  left  of  the 
Union  lines,  at  Gettysburg.  The  enemy  was 
shelling  the  whole  crest  heavily,  and  moving  a 
large  force  to  seize  this  commanding  height, 
while  we  were  rushing  up  to  get  the  position 
ourselves.  We  had  scarcely  got  our  troops 
into  something  like  a  line  among  the  rocks  of 
the  southern  slope,  when  the  enemy's  assault 
struck  us.  It  was  a  hard  hand-to-hand  fight, 

swaying  back  and  forth  under  successive  charges  and  counter-charges,  for  an  hour. 
I  had  been  obliged  to  throw  my  left  wing  back  at  a  right-angle  or  more  in  order  to 
hold  the  ground  at  all. 

"As  it  was  a  sort  of  echelon  attack,  the  enemy  was  constantly  coming  up  on  my 
left,  and  outflanking  me.  The  losses  in  my  regiment  were  very  heavy.  In  the 
center  of  the  apex  of  the  angle,  made  by  throwing  back  the  left  wing,  the  color- 
guard  was  shot  ,away,  the  color-company  and  that  next  to  it  lost  nearly  half  their 
number,  and  more  than  a  third  of  my  regiment  was  disabled.  We  had,  in  the  lull 
of  the  fight,  thrown  together  a  low  line  of  loose  rocks  that  were  scattered  about  the 
ground,  and  the  men  were  taking  such  shelter  as  they  could  behind  these,  though 
they  could  do  this  only  by  lying  down  and  firing  over  them.  This  helped  us  but 
little ;  it  served  chiefly  to  mark  the  line  we  were  bound  to  maintain. 

"At  last  I  saw  a  heavy  force  that  had  just  come  up  over  the  opposite  slopes  of 
Great  Round  Top,  coining  on  to  envelop  our  left.  They  were  close  to  us,  advancing 
rapidly,  and  iiring  as  they  came.  We  had  expended  our  last  round  of  cartridges,  and 
had  been  gathering  what  we  could  from  the  cartridge-boxes  of  the  dead  and  dying, 
friend  and  foe.  We  met  this  fresh  force  with  these  cartridges,  but  at  the  critical 
moment,  when  the  enemy  were  within  fifty  feet  of  us,  our  fire  fell  to  nothing.  Every 
round  was  gone. 

"Knowing  the  supreme  importance  of  holding  this  ground,  which  covered  the 
flank  of  Hazlett's  Battery  on  the  summit  and  gave  a  clear  enfilading  and  rear  fire 


"AND  INSTANTLY  HE  SURRENDERED." 


—  248  — 


upon  the  whole  force  holding  Little  Round  Top,  I  saw  no  other  way  to  save  it,  or 
even  ourselves,  but  to  charge  with  the  bayonet.  The  on-coining  force  evidently 
outnumbered  us  three  or  four  to  one,  but  it  was  the  last  resort. 

"  Giving  the  order  to  charge,  I  placed  myself  beside  the  colors  at  the  apex  of  our 
formation,  sent  word  to  the  senior  officer  on  my  left  to  make  a  right  wheel  of  the 
charge  and  endeavor  to  catch  the  enemy  somewhat  in  flank  on  their  right.  Then  we 
sprang  down  the  rocky  slope  into  the  presence  of  the  astonished  foe.  I  came  directly 
upon  an  officer  commanding  the  center  of  the  opposing  line.  He  attempted  to  fire 
a  pistol  in  my  face,  but  my  sabre  point  was  at  his  throat,  and  instantly  he  turned 
the  butt  of  his  pistol  and  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  and  surrendered.  His  whole  line 
began  to  throw  down  their  arms  likewise.  My  officers  were  also  in  the  line  with  the 
bayonets. 

"  This  charge  was  successful  beyond  all  my  hopes.  We  not  only  cleared  our  own 
front,  but,  by  the  right  wheel,  cleared  the  front  of  the  entire  brigade  on  our  right, 
and  also  the  whole  ground  between  Little  and  Great  Round  Top.  We  took  twice  as 
many  prisoners  as  we  had  men  in  our  ranks,  and  found  150  of  the  enemy's  dead  in 
our  front.  These  were  of  the  Fifteenth,  Forty-seventh  and  Fourth  Alabama,  and 
the  Fifth  Texas  regiments. 

"  The  result  of  this  movement,  beyond  question,  was  the  saving  of  Hazlett's  Bat 
tery,  and,  in  fact,  Round  Top  itself,  to  our  troops.  It  now  appears  that  it  also 
changed  Lee's  plans  for  his  attack  of  the  next  day  which  had  been  intended  to  be  a 
crushing  blow  on  our  left  again,  but  was  abandoned  for  Pickett's  charge  on  the 
center.  The  honors  belong  to  my  regiment." 


THE  JOKE  WAS  ON 

THE  OTHER  FELLOWS. 


A  MONG  the  comrades  of  Company  A,  One-hundred 
**  and  eighth  New  York  Infantry,  Corporal  William 
H.  Raymond's  physique  was  the  subject  of  a  standing 
joke.  He  was  so  lean  and  lanky,  that  it  was  observed 
that  he  was  altogether  too  thin  to  even  cast  a  shadow 
or  offer  sufficient  surface  for  a  decent  target.  These 
jokes  were  good-naturedly  borne  by  the  corporal,  until 
an  incident  occurred  during  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
when  Corporal  Raymond  accomplished  a  task,  where 
h  e  showed  that  his  physique  came  in  good  stead  and 
besides  displayed  such  courage  and  daring  that  ever 

afterward  the  joke  about  his  being  "too  thin"  was  on  the  other  fellow.     Corporal 

Raymond's  own  words  of  the  incident  referred  to,  follow  : 


WILLIAM  H.  RAYMOND, 

Corporal,  Co.  A.  lOSth  New  York  Infantry. 

Born  at  penfieMonoe  Co.,  N.  Y., 


—  249  — 

"Early  in  the  morning  of  July  3d,  my  regiment,  the  One-hundred  and  eighth 
New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  sent  to  the  skirmish  line  in  our  immediate  front. 
Company  A,  to  which  I  belonged,  had  eighteen  men  present  in  line  for  duty. 

"  The  skirmish  line,  which  was  entirely  destitute  of  anything  in  the  way  of  pro 
tection,  which  was  also  true  of  the  ground  between  Ziegler's  Grove  and  our  line, 
while  the  rebel  skirmish  line  was  behind  and  along  a  rail  fence,  not  more  than 
fifteen  or  twenty  rods  in  our  front,  from  which  we  received  a  very  hot  fire  while 
going  into  position.  Before  reaching  it  the  orderly-sergeant  of  my  company  was 
wounded  and  Lieutenant  Ostrander  appointed  me  orderly-sergeant. 


"I    ARRIVED    UNHURT." 

"During  the  engagement  our  men  were  running  short  of  ammunition  and  I 
advised  them  to  use  the  cartridges  from  the  dead  and  wounded,  but  these  did  not 
last  long.  I,  therefore,  reported  to  Lieutenant  Ostrander,  who  told  me  to  make  a 
detail  and  send  for  a  fresh  supply.  This  duty  was  extremely  hazardous,  and  I 
doubted  whether  it  could  be  done  without  the  sacrifice  of  life. 

"  Under  such  circumstances  I  hesitated  to  make  the  detail,  and  suggested  a  call 
for  volunteers.  The  lieutenant's  reply  came :  'I  don't  care  how  it  is  done,  as  long 
as  you  obtain  the  ammunition.'  On  calling  for  volunteers  no  one  responded,  where 
upon  I  volunteered  to  go  myself  and  started  for  our  lines.  Here  I  stated  my  errand. 


—  250  — 

"  Lieutenant- Colonel  Pierce,  who  had  command  of  the  regiment,  sent  for  a  supply, 
and  upon  its  arrival,  said.  'Raymond,  you  have  taken  your  share  of  risk,  let  some 
one  else  take  this  down  to  the  skirmish  line.'  I  said  that  it  might  as  well  be  myself 
as  anyone  else.  The  chances  were  talked  over  rapidly,  and  appeared  poor  enough. 
Nearly  every  officer  present  with  the  regiment,  and  many  of  the  men  bade  me  good 
bye,  the  opinion  being  freely  expressed,  that  I  could  not  get  back  to  the  skirmish 
line  alive.  However,  I  took  a  box  of  ammunition  of  1,000  rounds,  and  carried  it 
down  to  the  line,  arriving  there  unhurt,  though  I  had  seven  holes  shot  through  my 
clothing." 


WITH  BAYONET  AND  COBBLE  STONES. 


HENRY  D.  O'BRIEN  of  Company 
E,  First  Minnesota  Infantry,  received 
his  Medal  of  Honor  for  two  acts  of  gallantry 
at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.     On  July  2d, 
1863,  the  First  Minnesota  was  ordered  by 
General  Hancock  to  charge  the  Confederate 
forces,  who  were  driving  in  the  Third  Corps. 
The  regiment  numbered  262,  officers   and 
men,  when  it  went  into  that  desperate 
charge,  but  when  it  came  out,  215  had 
been  killed  and  wounded.     The  charge 
had  its  due  effect,  however,  for  the  enemy's 
line  was  broken,  his  advance  stopped,  and 
a  large  number  of  prisoners  taken.    While 
the  Minnesota  regiment  was  withdrawing 
from  between  the  two  fires,  O'Brien  noticed 
one  of  his  comrades,  E.  R.  Jefferson,  drop, 
shot  through  the  leg.    He  picked  up  his 
wounded  comrade  on  his  back,  and  was 
carrying  him  to  a  place  of  safety,  when  a 

ball  struck  his  cartridge  box  plate,  throwing  him  to  the  ground.  Undaunted  by 
this,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  raised  the  wounded  man  and  carried  him  to  the  rear 
without  further  injury. 

On  the  following  day,  when  Pickett  made  his  gallant  but  futile  charge,  O'Brien 
had  another  occasion  to  display  his  heroism.  The  story  is  well  told  in  the  official 
report  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  First  Minnesota :  "Corporal  Dehn,  the  last 
of  our  color -guard,  then  carrying  our  tattered  flag,  was  shot  through  the  hand,  and 
the  flagstaff  cut  in  two.  Corporal  Henry  D.  O'Brien  of  Company  E,  instantly  seized 


HENRY  D.  O'BRIEN, 

Corporal,  Co.  E,  1st  Minnesota  Infantry. 
Born  at  Colois,  Maine,  Jan.  21, 1812. 


—  251  — 

the  flag  by  the  remnant  of  the  staff.  Whether  the  command  to  charge  was  given 
by  any  general  officer,  I  do  not  know.  My  impression  was,  that  it  came  as  a  spon 
taneous  outburst  from  the  men,  and  instantly  the  line  precipitated  itself  upon  the 
enemy.  O'Brien,  who  held  the  broken  staff  and  tatters  of  our  battle  flag,  with  his 
characteristic  bravery  and  impetuosity  sprang  with  it  to  the  front  at  the  first  sound 
of  the  word  'charge/  and  ran  right  up  to  the  enemy's  line,  keeping  the  flag  noticeably 
in  advance  of  every  other  color.  My  feeling,  at  the  instant,  blamed  his  rashness  in  so 
risking  its  capture,  but  the  effect  was  electrical.  Every  man  of  the  First  Minnesota 
sprang  to  protect  the  flag,  and  the  rest  rushed  with  them  upon  the  enemy.  The 
bayonet  was  used  for  a  few  minutes,  and  cobble  stones,  with  which  the  ground  was 
well  covered,  filled  the  air,  being  thrown  by  those  in  the  rear  over  the  heads  of  their 
comrades.  The  struggle,  desperate  and  deadly  while  it  lasted,  was  soon  over.  Cor 
poral  O'Brien  received  two  wounds  in  the  final  melee  at  the  moment  of  the  victory." 
In  this  charge  O'Brien  was  twice  wounded  in  the  head  and  the  left  hand,  but  he 
carried  his  colors  through  the  fight.  In  the  charge  of  the  previous  day,  he  received 
a  bayonet  w^oimd  in  the  side. 


CAPTURED  THE  SHARPSHOOTERS  IN  THE  BARN 


T^HE  Third  Division  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  was  commanded  by  General  Carl 
*•  Schurz  and  known  as  "Howard's  German  Army."  Attached  to  it  was  the 
Forty-fifth  New  York  Infantry,  under  command  of  Colonel  George  Van  Amsberg, 
composed  of  soldiers  of  German  blood.  This  regiment  distinguished  itself  during 
the  initiatory  fighting  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  every  man  displaying  great 
bravery  and  daring.  Captain  Francis  Irsch,  of  Company  D,  especially  manifested 
such  skill  and  intrepidity  that  a  Medal  of  Honor  was  awarded  him. 

The  regiment  arrived  at  Gettysburg  at  11  A.  M.,  after  a  double-quick  march  of 
several  miles,  some  time  in  advance  of  the  Eleventh  Corps.  Captain  Irsch  was  im 
mediately  ordered  to  relieve  Buford's  Division,  which  was  slowly  retiring  before 
General  Henry  Heth's  Confederate  forces. 

As  Captain  Irsch,  in  pursuance  of  his  orders,  was  cautiously  and  steadily  moving 
forward,  he  came  in  contact  with  Major  Blackford's  Alabama  sharpshooters  and 
two  Confederate  batteries  planted  on  Oak  and  Benness  Hills.  The  enemy's  fire  did 
considerable  execution  and  Captain  Irsch  was  forced  to  seek  cover  and  wait  for 
re-enforcements.  When  the  balance  of  the  regiment  and  Dilger's  Ohio  Battery 
came  dashing  to  his  support,  the  attack  on  the  two  rebel  batteries  was  renewed  and 
carried  on  effectively.  General  Ewell,  however,  observed  the  small  number  of  the 
Union  troops  and  a  large  gap  in  their  line  and  ordered  O'Neil's  Alabama  and  Iver- 
son's  North  Carolina  Brigade  to  make  a  dash,  break  through  the  Union  lines  and 


—  252  — 

gain  possession  of  the  town  of  Oak  Hill  and  of  the  division  of  the  two  Union  corps. 
Iverson,  however,  either  misunderstood  the  order  or  was  belated,  and  O'Neil's 
stealthy  movement  toward  the  Mummasberg  Road  along  a  covered  lane  at  the  base 
of  Oak  Hill,  was  discovered  by  Captain  Irsch  just  in  time  to  advise  Captain  Dilger's 
Battery  and  the  other  regiments.  Dilger's  battery  poured  double  shotted  shrapnel  into 
the  ranks  of  the  advancing  Alabamians  who,  at  the  same  time,  were  received  with  a 
galling  fire  from  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Massachusetts,  who,  by  that  time,  had 
faced  about  to  cover  the  breach  and  meet  the  attack.  The  Alabamians  became  dis 
ordered  and  staggered  back  upon  the  rear  regiments  of  the  brigade.  Captain  Irsch 
no  sooner  perceived  the  predicament  of  the  rebels  when  he  concluded  that  the  time 
for  a  bold  stroke  had  come.  He  ordered  a  charge  and  soon  drove  the  Alabamians 
pell-mell  again  forward  on  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Massachusetts.  The  greater 
part  of  three  regiments  of  the  rebel  brigade  surrendered  with  their  battle-flags. 
Another  part  had  fortified  itself  in  McLean's  barn  and  from  there  kept  up  a  galling 
fire.  Captain  Irsch  made  a  rush  for  the  barn  and  stormed  it,  capturing  about  one 
hundred  more  prisoners.  Iverson's  Brigade  of  North  Carolinians  arrived  too  late 
and  met  with  a  similar  fate. 

When  later  in  the  day  General  Early  turned  the  right  of  the  Eleventh  Corps 
and  was  threatening  Steinwehr's  Second  Division  on  Cemetery  Hill,  the  general 
break  up  of  the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps  came.  The  Union  troops  poured  into 
the  town  of  Gettysburg,  hotly  pursued  by  the  Confederates.  Baxter's  Brigade 
of  the  First  and  Schimmelpfennig's  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  frequently  held  the 
victorious  enemy  at  bay  and  carried  their  desperate  resistance  right  into  the 
streets  of  the  town.  Gun  carriages,  ambulances,  the  wounded  and  the  dead  blocked 
the  way  and  made  further  resistance  impossible.  The  regiments  broke  up  into  small 
commands,  each  endeavoring  to  escape  and  reach  Cemetery  Hill  as  best  they 
could.  Captain  Irsch's  Battalion  remained  intact  till  Chambersburg  Street  was 
reached,  which  they  cleared  to  the  right  and  left  almost  up  to  Market  Square,  where 
a  portion  of  the  Forty-fifth  with  the  colors  ran  through  an  alley  just  as  the  enemy 
was  planting  a  battery  on  the  square.  Captain  Irsch  already  had  taken  possession 
of  a  block  of  houses  from  which  he  and  the  remainder  of  his  regiment  kept  up  an 
incessant  fire  upon  the  Confederates.  Many  Union  soldiers  sought  refuge  in  the 
same  block,  so  that  within  a  short  time  there  were  no  less  than  600  men  barricaded 
in  these  houses.  The  street  defense  in  that  section  of  the  town  lasted  several  hours. 
Toward  sundown  the  Confederates  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  gallant  little  band. 
Captain  Irsch  was  permitted  to  leave  the  temporary  defense  under  a  flag  of  truce 
and  satisfy  himself  that  no  succor  was  in  sight  and  that  further  resistance  was  use 
less.  He  was  escorted  to  the  outskirts  of  the  town  and  was  soon  convinced  that 
nothing  could  be  gained  by  further  bloodshed.  After  a  consultation  with  the  other 
officers  the  men  were  ordered  to  destroy  their  arms  and  ammunition  and  surrender. 
Captain  Irsch  was  sent  to  Libby  prison.  He  made  one  escape,  was  recaptured  and 
sent  back  again  behind  the  walls  of  this  dismal  place  of  confinement. 


—  253  — 


TEN  CAPTURE  A  FORTIFIED  STOCKADE 


GEORGE  K.  MARSH, 

Servant,  Co.  D,  101th  Illinois  Infantry. 
Bom  at  Brooklield,  La  Salic  Co.,  111.,  is:js. 


Rosecrans'  campaign  against  Bragg,  in  Ten- 
nessee,  Sergeant  George  K.  Marsh  commanded 
the  "  forlorn  hope  "  of  ten  volunteers,  sent  to  capture 
the  rebel  stockade  at  Elk  River,  Tenn.,  July  2,  1863. 
It  had  been  reported  to  General  John  Beatty,  com 
manding  the  Union  troops,  that  the  rebels  had  burned 
the  bridge  over  the  Elk  River  and  taken  position  with 
their  artillery  and  infantry  on  the  bluffs  beyond.  Gen 
eral  Beatty  describes  the  situation  as  follows: 

"Riding  forward,  I  discovered  the  enemy's  cavalry 
and  infantry  across  the  river,  and  his  artillery  in 
position  ready  to  open  on  us  whenever  the  head  of 
our  column  should  make  its  appearance  in  the  turn  of 
the  road.  Seeing  that  it  would  be  useless  to  expose 

my  infantry,  and  that  artillery  alone  would  be  effectual  in  dislodging  him,  I  hurried 
forward  Captain  Hewett's  four  guns,  and  sent  back  a  request  for  another  battery, 
upon  which  Captain  Schultz'  Battery  was  sent  forward.  Without  exposing  my 
horses  and  men,  so  as  to  draw  the  enemy's  fire,  I  succeeded  in  getting  ten  guns  in 
position,  before  he  was  aware  of  it,  and  opened  fire.  The  enemy  replied  vigorously, 
but  so  well  were  the  guns  of  Captains  Hewett  and  Schultz  served,  that  after  about 
forty  minutes  the  enemy  retired  his  artillery  double-quick.  I  then  sent  forward  my 
regiments  to  the  river,  shelled  the  sharpshooters  and  cavalry  from  the  hills  on  the 
opposite  side,  sent  a  few  men  to  occupy  a  stockade  near  the  bridge,  and  drive  away 
a  few  troublesome  sharpshooters,  who  were  still  concealed  in  the  bluffs."  The  bal 
ance  of  the  interesting  story  is  best  told  by  Sergeant  Marsh  himself.  He  says: 

"We  had  skirmished  all  the  morning  with  a  light  battery  supported  by  infantry, 
who  were  defending  their  retreating  baggage  trains.  As  we  advanced  we  came 
suddenly  to  a  clearing,  on  the  opposite  side  of  which  was  a  stockade  fort  plainly 
visible  from  our  position.  A  short  distance  to  our  right  the  enemy  had  crossed 
the  Elk  River  on  a  bridge  which  they  burned  to  prevent  our  following.  Also,  in 
case  we  should  make  an  attempt  to  construct  a  pontoon  bridge,  they  had  planted 
a  small  battery  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream,  and  stationed  a  squad  of  infantry 
to  support  it. 

"Our  commanding  officer  saw,  that  if  we  were  in  possession  of  the  stockade,  we 
could  better  cope  with  the  advances  of  the  enemy.  He  asked  me  to  lead  a  squad  to 
reconnoiter,  and  if  possible,  take  the  stockade.  I  called  out:  'All  who  are  not  afraid, 
fall  in!' 

"  Many  offered  to  go,  but  I  took  the  first  ten  who  stepped  forward,  and  started 
for  the  fortification.  We  deployed  and  covered  the  field  at  a  double-quick  under  a 


—  254  — 

heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  from  the  other  side  of  the  Elk  River,  and  at  first 
from  the  stockade. 

"None  of  us  returned  the  fire  until  we  had  forced  an  entrance  into  the  stockade, 
then  we  emptied  our  rifles  into  the  Confederates,  who,  upon  seeing  us  enter  the  fort, 
climbed  the  stockade  on  the  opposite  side  and  ran  up  the  bank.  No  one  who  saw 


WE  DEPLOYED  AND  STARTED  FOR  THE  FORTIFICATION." 


us  go  into  the  fight  expected  to  see  us  come  out  alive,  but  we  did,  and  without  the 
loss  of  a  man." 

Of  the  ten  men  who  followed  Sergeant  Marsh  in  this  brilliant  charge,  the  names 
of  only  six  could  be  obtained.  They  were  John  Shapland,  Oscar  Slagle,  Reu 
ben  Smalley,  Charles  Stacey,  Richard  J.  Gage  and  Samuel  F.  Holland.  Each  of 
these  was  rewarded  with  a  Medal  of  Honor.  The  records  state  that  Sergeant  Marsh 
received  his  "for  having  led  a  small  party  at  Elk  River  July  2,  1863,  captured  a 
stockade  and  saved  the  brigade." 


—  255  — 


HOLTON, 


Mich.  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Potter,  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  25, 1838. 


A  DARE-DEVIL  CHARGE. 


OERGEANT   CHARLES  M.   HOLTON,  Company 
^     A,  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry,  won  his 
medal   at  the  battle  of  Falling  Waters,  by 
capturing  a  flag  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Virginia,  in 
one  of  the  most  dashing  charges  in  the  annals 
of  the  war.     He  thus  describes  the  incident : 
"On  the  morning  of  July  14,  1863,  Oust 
er's  Michigan  Brigade  came  face  to  face  with 
four  brigades  of  rebel  infantry  strongly  en 
trenched  and  supported  by  artillery.     This 
was  a  division  of  Lee's  army  which  had  failed 
to   cross  the  Potomac.       Although  greatly 
inferior    in    numbers,   the    Michigan    men 
formed  up  and  attacked   them  with  great 
fury.     Our    skirmish   line  was  rapidly   ap 
proaching  the  enemy's  battery,  where  Gen 
eral  Kilpatrick  ordered  a  charge  by  the  First  Battalion  of  the  Seventh  Michigan, 
which  had  been  left  to  support  Pennington's  Battery.     The  little  battalion  which 
comprised  only  seventy  sabres,  formed  in  column  of  fours,  and  charged  up  a  lane 
which  was  occupied  by  the  right  of  the  Confederate  line.     They  dashed  through  the 
enemy  and  into  the  field  beyond,  where  the  rebel  reserve  was  drawn  up.     Unheeding 
the  storm  of  bullets  that  assailed  them,  the  undaunted  little  troop  dashed  into  the 
enemy's  ranks  and  cut  its  wray  through. 

"Seeing  the  color-sergeant  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Virginia  fall  wounded,  I  sprang 
from  my  horse  and  seized  the  colors.  As  I  remounted,  I  heard  the  wounded  color- 
bearer  say :  '  You  Yanks  have  been  after  that  old  fiag  for  a  long  time,  but  you 
never  got  it  before.'  While  we  were  forming  up  to  charge  them  again  from  their 
rear,  the  Confederates  threw  down  their  arms,  and  we  marched  400  prisoners  from 
the  field. 

"  General  Kilpatrick  examined  the  captured  flag,  and  found  on  it  the  names  of 
all  the  great  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Northern  Virginia.  The  guard  ordered  me 
to  join  his  staff  with  it  for  the  balance  of  the  day,  and  in  the  evening  Adjutant 
Briggs  wrote  an  inscription  on  the  margin  of  the  flag,  telling  how  it  had  been  cap 
tured  by  me." 


Falling  Waters,  Va. — The  Confederates  under  Lee  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  one 
mile  and  a  half  from  Falling  Waters,  were  attacked  July  14,  1863,  by  Kilpatrick's  Third  Brigade  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  after  two  hours'  fighting,  completely  routed.  The  rebels  lost  1,500  men  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners;  the  Union  loss  was  nominal. 


—  256  — 


INSUBORDINATION  REWARDED 


T  T  is  not  often  that  the  government  of  a  great  nation 


CARLE  A.  WOODRUFF, 

Lieutenant,  Horse  Battery  M,  2d  U.  S. 

Artillery. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Lieut-Col.,  U.  S.  A. 
Born  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  8, 1841. 


grants  the  highest  military  distinction  in  its  power 
"for  distinguished  gallantry,"  when  the  conspicuous 
service  rendered  was  an  act  committed  in  direct  diso 
bedience  of  orders. 

This  was  done  in  the  case  of  Lieutenant  Carle  A. 
Woodruff  of  Battery  M,  Second  U.  S.  Artillery,  and 
Captain  Smith  H.  Hastings  of  Troop  M,  Fifth  Michi 
gan  Cavalry. 

The  facts  of  the  interesting  occurrence  are  given 
in  Lieutenant  Woodruff' s  language  as  follows  : 

"Early  on  the  morning  of  July  24th,  we  marched 
from  Amissville,  through  Newby's  Cross-Roads,  and 
struck  the  flank  of  one  of  the  corps  of  Lee's  army 
marching  from  Chester  Gap  towards  Culpepper  Court 
House.  Our  cavalry  w7as  at  once  deployed,  and  Bat 
tery  M  was  brought  into  action  to  shell  the  retreat 
ing  columns.  Some  movements  on  the  part  of  the 

enemy  caused  General  Custer  to  hastily  withdraw  his  command,  and  order  a  return 
to  Amissville.  Colonel  George  Gray  of  the  Sixth  Michigan  Cavalry,  with  two  troops 
of  his  regiment,  two  of  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Captain  S.  H. 
Hastings,  and  my  section,  two  guns  of  Horse  Battery  M,  constituted  the  rear  guard. 
As  we  retired  Colonel  Gray  led  the  way  with  his  squadron,  and  that  of  Captain 
Hastings  brought  up  the  rear. 

"The  enemy  saw  a  chance  to  cut  off  our  small  com- 
mand  and  pushed  General  Benning's  Brigade  around  a 
hi}}  an(j  Up  ^}ie  ^d  Of  a  dry  stream,  which  crossed  the 
only  road  in  our  rear.  Here  they  concealed  themselves 
waiting  for  our  approach.  General  Benning  thought 
that  the  trap  laid  for  the  Union  soldiers  was  complete. 
He  felt  confident  of  capturing  not  only  the  guns  of  my 
batteiy,  but  also  the  two  squadrons  of  cavalry. 

"'I  now  thought'  the  rebel  general  wTrote  to  General 
Longstreet  'we  had  their  cannon  and  cavalry  secured  as 
there  wras  no  possible  way  to  Amissville  but  the  road 
occupied  by  my  brigade,  all  others  being  excluded  by 
s.  H.  HASTINGS,  th  e   mountain  and  its   spur.'      General   Benning's  cal- 

Captain,  Troop  M.  6th  Mich,  cavalry.        /"nla+irm«     nii<f"irviprl      for     thp     trail     wliir'h     IIP     liar!     «O 

Highest  rank  attained:  Col.  U.S.V.          CUiatlOllS     llllhdlll     Xi,     I 

Born  at  Quincy,  Mic-h.,  Dec.  27.  1SK!, 


—  257  — 

carefully  planned  and  set  failed  of  its  purpose.  As  soon  as  Colonel'  Gray's  squadron 
came  within  their  range  the  rebels  rushed  forth  from  their  place  of  hiding  and  fired 
a  volley  at  point-blank  range.  The  squadron  came  dashing  back  upon  us,  and  in  the 
confusion  of  their  flight  carried  the  team  of  the  leading  gun  with  them.  The 
horses  turned  around  so  sharply  that  the  gun  was  almost  upset.  Colonel  Gray 
called  to  me:  'Cut  your  traces,  abandon  your  guns,  and  follow  me.'  I  replied: 
'  I  will  never  leave  my  guns.' 

"We  unlimbered  and  opened  fire  with  canister.  Just  then  Captain  Hastings 
came  up  with  his  squadron  and  asked  :  '  What  do  you  intend  to  do,  Woodruff  ?  How 
can  I  help  you?'  I  answered:  'Dismount  some  of  your  men,  and  support  me.' 
Another  officer  galloped  up  to  me  at  this  moment.  '  Colonel  Gray,'  he  said,  '  orders 
you  to  cut  your  traces  and  abandon  your  guns,  and  we  will  try  to  charge  through 
the  enemy's  lines.'  Again  I  refused  to  leave  my  guns,  and  turning  to  my  command, 
said :  '  Men,  I  have  received  orders  to  abandon  our  guns.'  They  all  shouted :  '  Never 
lieutenant,  we  will  stay  with  you,  and  we  will  all  go  to  Richmond  together.' 

"I  kept  our  gun  firing  while  I  moved  the  other  with  ten  horses  and  the  assistance 
of  dismounted  cavalry,  over  a  piece  of  marshy  ground  to  my  left.  Then  we  opened 
fire  with  that  gun,  while  we  returned  with  the  horses  for  the  other.  The  pieces  were 
moved  alternately  to  the  left,  a  little  at  a  time,  until  we  got  them  on  the  flank  of 
the  enemy,  and  commanding  the  bed  of  the  stream  they  occupied.  After  about  two 
hours  of  this  work,  we  succeeded  in  reaching  the  main  body  of  our  command,  having 
held  off  a  whole  brigade  of  the  enemy. 

"When  I  reached  General  Custer,  I  dismounted,  and  reported  that  my  men  and 
guns  were  safe.  The  general,  who  was  lying  down  at  the  time,  sprang  to  his  fest 
and  embraced  me.  He  told  me  he  had  sent  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry  and  Hamil 
ton's  section  of  Horse  Battery  M  down  the  road  to  try  and  open  communication 
with  us.  Colonel  Gray  and  his  command  reported  to  General  Custer  after  I  did, 
having  in  his  retreat  described  a  much  larger  circle  than  we." 

Captain  Smith  H.  Hastings  of  Co.  M,  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry,  who  shares  in  a 
large  measure  in  the  success  of  the  engagement  and  likewise  was  decorated  with  the 
Medal  of  Honor,  has  little  to  add  to  Lieutenant  Woodruff's  version : 

"I  heard  Woodruff  reply  to  Colonel  Gray," says  he,  "that  he  would  never  abandon 
his  guns,  and  rode  up  to  him,  asking  whether  I  could  help  him. 

"Lieutenant  Woodruff  ran  ahead  to  assist  Sergeant  Flood  in  unlimbering  our 
gun  and  shouted,  that  he  wished  me  to  dismount  my  men  and  help  him  out.  I  did 
not  hesitate  a  moment,  but  immediately  decided  to  stand  by  the  brave  lieutenant." 

Success  crowned  the  united  efforts  of  both  officers.  Speaking  of  General  Custer, 
to  whom  Captain  Hastings  reported,  he  says :  "  The  general  was  a  mighty  pleased 
soldier  that  evening,  because,  by  disobeying  orders,  Lieutenant  Woodruff,  myself 
and  our  brave  comrades  had  preserved  intact  the  record  of  General  Custer's  brigade 
—never  to  have  permitted  the  enemy  to  capture  from  it  a  single  piece  of  artillery." 


-258  — 


THE  FLAG  NEVER  TOUCHED  THE  GROUND.' 


noon,"  writes  Private 

William  H.  Carney  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Mas 
sachusetts  Volunteers,  "we  began  to  draw  near  Fort 
Wagner  under  a  tremendous  cannonading  from  the 
fleet.  When  within  about  a  thousand  yards  of  the 
fort  we  halted  and  lay  flat  on  the  ground  waiting 
for  the  order  to  charge. 

"The  order  came,  and  we  had  advanced  but  a 
short  distance,  when  we  were  opened  upon  with 
musketry,  shell  and  canister,  which  mowed  down 
our  men  right  and  left.  When  the  color-bearer  was 
disabled,  I  threw  away  my  gun  and  seized  the  colors, 
making  my  way  to  the  head  of  the  column,  but 
before  I  reached  there,  the  line  had  descended  the 
embankment  into  the  ditch  and  was  advancing  upon 
Fort  Wagner  itself 

"  Going  down  the  embankment  our  column  was 
stanch  and  full.  As  we  ascended  the  breastworks 

the  ranks  showed  dreadful  gaps  made  by  the  enemy's  fire.  Tn  less  than  twenty 
minutes  I  found  myself  alone  struggling  upon  the  ramparts,  while  all  around  me  lay 
the  dead  and  wounded  piled  one  upon  another.  As  I  could  not  go  into  the  fort 
alone,  I  knelt  down,  still  holding  the  flag  in  my  hands.  The  musket  balls  and  grape 
shot  were  flying  all  around  me,  and  as  they  struck,  the  sand  would  fly  in  my  face. 
I  knew  my  position  was  a  critical  one  and  wondered  how  long  I  should  remain  undis 
covered. 

"  Finding  at  last  that  our  force  had  renewed  the  attack  farther  to  the  right,  and 
the  enemy's  attention  was  drawn  thither,  I  turned  to  go,  when  I  discovered  a  bat 
talion  coming  toward  me  on  the  ramparts.  As  they  advanced  in  front  of  me  I 
raised  my  flag  and  was  about  to  join  them,  when  I  noticed  that  they  were  enemies. 


WILLIAM  H.  CARNEY, 

Private,  filth  Massachusetts  Infantry. 
Born  at  Norfolk,  Va..  Feb.  2<i,  isio. 


Fort  Wagner,  S.  C. — The  assault  upon  Fort  Wagner,  Morris  Island,  was  a  feature  of  the  operations 
against  the  harbor  and  islands  ad  joining  Charleston,  undertaken  by  Admiral  Dahlgreen  with  the  fleet,  co-oper 
ating  with  General  Gillmore  in  charge  of  the  land  forces. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  Morris  Island  was  attacked  by  Strong's  Brigade.  The  Confederates  were  driven 
from  all  the  batteries  south  of  Fort  Wagner,  and  most  of  the  island  abandoned  to  the  Union  men.  On  the 
next  day  an  attack  upon  the  fort  was  made,  which  resulted  in  a  repulse.  Bombardment  by  the  fleet  and 
the  batteries  on  the  adjacent  islands  commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  and,  in  the  evening,  a  storm 
ing  party,  led  by  Colonel  Shaw,  (Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts)  succeeded  in  carrying  the  fort,  with  a  loss  of 
1,500,  among  whom  was  the  colonel.  One  hundred  and  seventy-four  of  the  fort's  defenders  were  killed  or 
wounded. 


—  259  — 


Instantly  winding  my  colors  around  the  staff,  T  made  my  way  down  the  parapet  into 
the  ditch,  which,  when  I  had  first  crossed  it,  had  been  dry,  but  was  now  filled  with 
water  that  came  to  my  waist. 

"All  the  men  who  had  mounted  the  ramparts  with  me,  were  either  killed  or 
wounded,  I  being  the  only  one  left  erect  and  moving. 

"Upon  rising  to  determine  my  course  to  the  rear,  I  was  struck  by  a  bullet,  but, 
as  I  was  not  prostrated  by  the  shot,  I  continued  my  course.  I  had  not  gone  very 
far,  however,  before  I  was  struck  by  a  second  ball. 


''I  KNELT  DOWN,  STILL  HOLDING  THE  FLAG  IN  MY  HANDS  " 


"Soon  after  I  met  a  member  of  the  One-hundredth  New  York,  who  inquired  if  I 
was  wounded.  Upon  my  replying  in  the  affirmative,  he  came  to  my  assistance  and 
helped  me  to  the  rear.  While  on  our  way  I  was  again  wounded,  this  time  in  the 
head,  and  my  rescuer  then  offered  to  carry  the  colors  for  me,  but  I  refused  to  give 
them  up,  saying  that  no  one  but  a  member  of  my  regiment  should  carry  them. 

"  We  passed  on  until  we  reached  the  rear  guard,  where  I  was  put  under  charge 
of  the  hospital  corps,  and  sent  to  my  regiment.  When  the  men  saw  me  bringing  in 
the  colors,  they  cheered  me,  and  I  was  able  to  tell  them  that  the  old  flag  had  never 
touched  the  ground." 


—  260  — 


A  BRAVE  BUGLER 


JOSEPH  C.  HIBSON, 

Private,  Co.  C,  -ISth  New  York  Infantry. 
Born  in  London,  England,  August :;,  IM:J. 


OUGLER  JOSEPH  C.  HIBSON  of  Company  C, 
*-*  Forty-eighth  New  York  Infantry,  was 
only  twenty  years  old,  when  he  earned  his 
Medal  of  Honor.  It  was  awarded  to  him  for 
risking  his  life  to  save  his  comrades  from 
being  shot  down  by  their  own  supports,  and 
afterwards,  when  his  arm  had  been  shattered, 
saving  the  regimental  colors  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

"On  the  evening  of  July  18th,  after  an 
all-day  bombardment  by  the  army  and  navy, 
the  assault  on  Fort  Wagner  was  made. 
We  crossed  the  moat  and  engaged  in  a  hand- 
to-hand  fight  with  the  Thirty-first  North 
Carolina  in  their  outer  works.  They  soon 
weakened,  and  we  drove  them  from  the 
southeast  bastion,  which  we  held  under  a 
terrible  cross  fire.  Re-enforcements  were  sent 

to  our  support,  but  by  some  blunder,  they  mistook  us  for  the  enemy  and  poured  a 
destructive  volley  into  us.  We  could  not  live  under  the  three  fires,  and  something 
had  to  l>e  done  to  stop  the  fire  in  our  rear.  I  ran  down  into  the  moat  and  told  our 
men  there  of  the  terrible  blunder  they  were  making  and  on  this  errand  was  shot  in 
the  elbow. 

"Having  stopped  the  fire  in  our  rear,  I  returned  to  the  crest  of  the  fort  to  find 
Color-Sergeant  George  (I.  Sparks,  severely  wounded,  the  color  staff  shot  in  two,  and 
all  the  color-guard  either  killed  or  wounded.  I  picked  up  the  colors  with  my  unin 
jured  hand,  but  just  at  that  moment  the  Confederates  made  a  determined  assault 
on  us.  We  managed  to  repulse  the  assault,  but  I  received  two  additional  wounds; 
the  bone  of  my  left  forearm  was  completely  shattered,  and  I  was  wounded  in  the 
head  by  pieces  of  a  shell  that  burst  near  me.  My  scalp  was  torn  and  the  blood  was 
running  into  my  eyes. 

"  Lieutenant  James  Barrett  took  command  of  the  regiment,  all  the  other  officers 
being  killed  or  wounded,  and  ordered  a  retreat.  I  gave  the  colors  into  safe  hands, 
and,  my  mission  ended,  went  into  the  hospital." 


HIBSON  recounts  another  incident  which  occurred  prior  to  this,  on  the  evening  of 
July  13th.  He  says: 

"  During  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Wagner,  I,  a  musician,  was  not  required  to 
become  actively  engaged,  but  went  about  seeking  excitement.  I  volunteered  to  take 


-•261- 


the  place  of  a  sick  comrade  who  had  been  allotted  to  a  vidette.  Shortly  after  mid 
night  some  indistinct  forms  sprang  up  out  of  the  darkness,  and  Daniel  Kane,  my 
comrade  on  guard,  was  stabbed  with  a  bayonet.  A  voice  hissed  in  my  ear  the  word 
'Surrender,'  but  instead  of  doing  so,  I  brought  my  rifle  to  the  'Shorten  arms'  and 
fired  without  tak-  ing  aim.  The  rebel  fell  at  my  feet.  I  rammed  another 

charge  of  powder  v_  into  my  rifle,  but  the  bullet  slipped  through  my  fingers 
and  the  other  V  Confederate,  who,  by  this  time  had  risen,  charged  upon 

me.     I  turned  /  ^fil       and  ran  for  our  rifle  pits  with  the  Confederate  close 

behind     me,  Jdfl  until  one  of  my  comrades  brought  him  down. 


I  PICKED  UP 
THE  COLORS 
WITH  MY 
UNINJURED 
HAND." 


"The  following  night  a  volunteer  was  called  for  to  accompany  Lieutenant 
Edwards  on  a  reconnoitering  expedition.  I  volunteered  and  was  accepted.  After 
we  had  gone  a  short  distance,  I  lost  the  lieutenant,  who  wandered  off  in  the  darkness 
and  strayed  back  to  our  lines.  I  kept  on  by  myself,  taking  an  oblique  course.  I  was 
constantly  falling  headlong  into  shell  holes  and  tripping  over  obstacles,  and  I  had 
finally  to  go  down  on  hands  and  knees  and  crawl.  Presently  I  heard  some  faint 
voices  ahead,  and  stopping  to  listen,  heard  the  Confederates  shovelling  a  little 
ahead  of  me  and  to  my  left.  At  the  same  moment  I  heard  in  my  rear  three  or  four 
of  the  enemy's  pickets  conversing  in  low  tones.  I  started  to  crawl  back  the  way  I 
had  come  and  nearly  dropped  into  one  of  their  rifle-pits.  I  succeeded  in  avoiding  it, 
and  got  away  without  being  detected.  When  I  returned  to  my  regiment  with  my 
information  the  men  gave  three  cheers  and  a  tiger  for  'The  little  bugler.'" 


—  262  — 


ALL  FOR  HIS  MESSMATE 


HENRY  C.  SLUSHEK, 

Private,  Troop  P,  22d  Penn.  Vol.  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Washington  Co.,  Penn.,  May  10, 1846. 


PRIVATE  HENRY  C.  SLUSHER,  while  a  member 
of  Troop  E,  of  Ringgold's   Independent 

Volunteer  Cavalry,  made  a  desperate  attempt 

single-handed   to  rescue  a  wounded   comrade 

from  a  strong  party  of  Mosby's  Guerrillas  in 

the  Alleghany  Mountains.     He  tells  of  his  ad 
venture  in  the  following  words : 

"On   September  11,   1863,  the  rebels,   300 

strong,  under  Captain   McNeil,  surprised  the 

Yankee  camp  of  260  men  under  Major  Stevens, 

on  Cemetery  Hill,  at  Moorefield,  W.  Va.     At 

three  A.  M.,  twenty-five  men  of   Company  E 

were  ordered  out  on  the  Lost  River  Road,  up  to 

the  South  Fork  of  the   Potomac,    We  met  the  rebels  two  miles  south  of  Moorefield, 

carrying  off  all  the  camp  equipage  and  146  prisoners.     We  took  a  position  on  the 

west  side  of  the  river  on  a  bluff 
some  thirty  feet  higher  than  the 
road  a  ad  the  river,  dismounted, 
and  commenced  to  shoot  down 
the  horses  in  the  ravine,  killing 
twenty  of  them,  and  eight  or  ten 
men  of  the  rebel  force.  At  this 
time  I  caught  sight  of  my  mess 
mate,  William  P.  Hagner,  who 
had  been  wounded  early  in  the 
day,  taken  prisoner,  and  placed  in 
in  an  ambulance.  When  we  shot 
the  horses  he  threw  up  his  hands 
as  a  signal  for  help.  To  see  him 
in  such  a  predicament  was  too 
much  for  me.  I  at  once  crossed 
the  river.  My  aim  was  to  rescue 
him  at  all  hazards,  and  I  reached 
the  vehicle  under  a  heavy  fire. 
In  a  hand-to-hand  fight  close  by 
by  the  ambulance,  I  was  wounded 
and  captured  and  had  to  share 
"MY  AIM  WAS  TO  tne  ^G  of  my  comrade  in  Libby 

RESCUE  MY  COMRADE."          Prison." 


—  263  — 


THIS  BUGLER  CHECKED 
A  ROUT 


W.  J.  CARSON, 

Musician,  Co.  E,  15th  United  States  Infantry. 


DUGLER  W.  J.  CARSON'S  story  is  in- 
— '  teresting,  because  it  furnishes  a 
fine  example  of  personal  bravery,  and 
in  addition,  shows  to  what  extent  a 
bugler  can  become  an  important  fac 
tor  in  battle. 

"  On  September  19,  1863,  our  bri 
gade  consisting  of  the  First  Battalion 
of  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  United 
States  Infantry,  the  three  battalions 
of  the  Eighteenth  United  States  In 
fantry,  two  battalions  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Infantry  and  Battery  H  of  the 

Fifth  United  States  Artillery,  was  ordered  to  advance  to  a  position  one  mile  east  of 
Kelley's  Field,  Chickamauga,"  Bugler  Carson  narrates.  "Just  as  our  battery  was  get 
ting  into  position,  a  battery  and  two  brigades  of  the  enemy  opened  fire  on  us.  The 
short,  but  sharp,  engagement  resulted  in  £he  death  of  First  Lieutenant  H.  M.  Burnham, 
and  twelve  men,  the  capture  of  thirteen  men  and  the  entire  battery.  In  addition, 
two  lieutenants  and  sixteen  men  were  wounded,  while  nearly  every  horse  was 
either  killed  outright,  or  fatally  injured. 

"  Our  infantry  made  a  grand  and  noble  effort  to  recapture  the  battery,  but  were 
driven  back  by  the  greatly  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  As  bugler,  I  did  all  in 
my  power  to  rally  and  lead  the  men  to  the  charge,  going  to  the  flags  and  sounding 
'to  the  colors.'  The  brave  fellows  rallied,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Seven 
teenth  and  Ninth  Ohio,  the  battery  was  retaken. 

"  On  the  following  morning,  our  brigade  was  engaged  with  Breckenridge's  Corps 
in  a  most  desperate  and  deadly  conflict.  Our  battalion  of  262  men  were  lying  down 
100  yards  in  the  rear  as  reserves.  I  had  picked  up  a  gun,  as  was  always  my  custom, 


Cliiekainaiiga.— During  the  summer  of  1863,  General  Rosecrans  having  succeeded  in  forcing  Bragg 
into  Georgia,  took  a  position  at  Chattanooga,  on  the  Tennessee.  Bragg,  strongly  re-enforced  by  Johnston 
arid  Longstreet,  attacked  the  Federal  Army,  September  19,  at  Chickamauga  Creek.  The  first  day's  battle 
was  undecisive.  On  the  20th,  the  Confederates  advanced,  Longstreet  on  the  left,  Polk  on  the  right,  Ewell 
and  Johnston  in  the  center.  The  Federal  left  wing  was  commanded  by  General  Thomas,  the  center  by 
Crittenden,  the  right  by  McCook. 

After  the  fight  had  lasted  several  hours,  the  Union  battle-line  was  opened  by  General  Wood,  acting 
under  mistaken  orders,  and  the  Confederate  general,  forcing  a  column  into  the  gap,  cut  the  army  in  two 
and  drove  the  right  wing  from  the  field.  General  Thomas  held  the  left  until  nightfall,  then  withdrew  to 
Chattanooga. 

The  Union  losses  in  these  two  days  amounted  to  15,851 ;  the  Confederate  loss,  17,804. 


—  264  — 


and  was  giving  the  enemy  every  shot  I  could, 
when  I  saw  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Eigh 
teenth  skulking  back  from  tree  to  tree.  I 
went  through  the  rows  of  our  men  and  sent 
him  back  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

"The  conflict  began,  when  Beattie's  Bri 
gade  gave  way  and  was  driven  back  by  an 
overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy.  The  left 
of  our  brigade  became  exposed  and  likewise 
gave  away.  Finally  the  whole  line  was  com 
ing  back  in  disorder.  Try  as  they  would,  the 
officers  were  powerless  to  check  the  rout.  I 
threw  down  my  gun,  rushed  out  some  thirty 
yards  to  the  color-bearer  of  the  Eighteenth 
and  said  to  him :  '  Let  us  rally  these  men, 
or  the  whole  left  is  gone.'  The  brave  fellow 
stopped  and  waived  his  flag.  I  sounded  'to  the 
colors.'  The  men  cheered.  They  rushed  into 
line.  Still  sounding  the  rally,  I  passed  back  and 
forth  in  front  of  the  forming  line,  and  what  a 
few  minutes  before  seemed  like  a  hopeless 
and  disastrous  rout,  now  turned  out  to  be 
a  complete  victory.  The  retreat  had  been 
checked  and  the  enemy  driven  back  with 
awful  slaughter.  So  severe  was  their  repulse, 
that  within  a  few  minutes  we  were  firing  to 
wards  our  rear  into  the  enemy  who  were 
pressing  Beattie's  troops  back.  I  noticed  a 
color-bearer  of  the  Second  Ohio  running  with 
his  men  out  of  the  woods  on  the  north  side  of 
Kelley's  Field.  I  headed  him  off  and  ex 
horted  him  to  stop,  which  he  promptly  did. 
Then  I  once  more  sounded  'to  the  colors'  and 
many  a  brave  soldier  halted,  but  as  the  en 
emy  appeared  at  the  edge  of  the  timber  and 
poured  a  deadly  volley  into  us,  all  broke  and 
ran  like  good  fellows.  We  sought  shelter  at 
the  east  of  the  timber  and  fired  into  the  en 
emy  from  a  temporary  defense  of  logs  and 
rails.  After  two  hours  of  hard  fighting  and 

receiving  re-enforcements  our  lines  were  once  more  formed  and  straightened  out. 
I  took  an  inventory  of  myself    and   found   ten   bullet  holes  in  my  clothes;  three 


I  SOUNDED  'TO  THE  COLORS    "' 


—  265  — 

bullets  had  pierced  my  hat  and  one  had  struck  and  slightly  wounded  my  left 
arm.  We  held  our  position  until  the  last  cartridge  was  gone,  and  at  about  6:30 
o'clock  were  taken  prisoners." 

It  was  not  known  till  long  afterwards  that  the  Fourteenth  Corps  owed  its  de 
liverance  from  annihilation  to  Bugler  Carson.  General  Bragg  had  ordered  a  charge 
on  the  Federal  position  at  3:30  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  if  it  had  been  de 
livered  at  that  time  the  rebels  could  have  broken  the  left  of  the  defense  and  got  in 
the  rear  of  General  Thomas'  men  who  were  holding  Snodgrass  Hill.  The  destruc 
tion  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  would  have  been  inevitable,  for  both  McCook's  and 
Critlander's  Corps  had  been  swept  from  the  field.  But  the  rebels  were  deceived  by 
the  bugle  calls,  and  thought  they  signalled  the  arrival  of  heavy  re-enforcements,  so 
they  delayed  the  final  blow  till  they  had  collected  all  the  forces  at  hand.  This  took 
nearly  three  hours,  and  by  the  time  the  final  charge  was  delivered,  and  the  little 
defending  force  crushed  by  weight  of  numbers,  the  Northern  Army  was  well  on 
its  way  to  Chattanooga. 


PLANTED  THE  COLORS  AND  RALLIED  THE 

REGIMENT 


"\  X /"HEN  General  Bragg,  the  commander  of  the 
*  *  Confederate  Army  at  Chickamauga,  was 
making  a  desperate  effort  to  gain  possession  of  the 
'State  or  Lafayette  Road,'"  Sergeant  George  S. 
Myers  relates,  "the  One  hundred  and  first  Ohio 
Regiment,  was  fighting  with  its  brigade  on  what 
was  then  the  right  flank  of  the  Union  Army,  which 
rested  on  the  Vineyard  Farm.  An  irresistible  force 
of  the  enemy  bore  down  upon  this  point,  crushing 
the  right  of  the  One  hundred  and  first  Ohio,  killing 
and  capturing  many  men  of  the  right  companies, 
and  compelling  the  entire  line  to  fall  back  in  some 
confusion. 

"All  of  the  color-guards  were  killed,  wounded  or 
captured  within  a  few  minutes :  the  color-bearer 
went  down  with  a  bullet  through  his  head,  and  the 

colors  were  thus  almost  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  I  sprang  back,  secured  the 
precious  flag,  and,  instead  of  continuing  the  retreat,  ran  boldly  forward  and  planted 
the  colors  on  a  knoll  in  the  face  of  the  Confederate  line.  The  regiment  responded 


GEORGE  S.  MYERS, 

Sergeant.  Co.  F,  101st  Ohio  Infantry. 
Born  at  Lancaster,  Ohio,  Jan.  2C>.  1S43. 


—  266  — 

to  my  initiative  and  the  enemy  was  temporarily  repulsed.  I  was  wounded,  how 
ever,  and,  after  turning  over  the  colors  to  Colonel  Messer,  was  taken  from  the  field. 

"  To  illustrate  the  fierceness  of  the  battle  on  that  part  of  the  line,  it  may  be 
added  that  after  the  engagement,  all  that  was  left  of  Company  A,  of  this  regiment, 
was  Captain  Bryant  and  three  men.  Company  F,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  had 
only  two  men  left  to  answer  to  the  roll  call." 

Sergeant  Myers'  gallant  act  was  characterized  by  his  superiors  as  one  of  the 
bravest  in  their  experience. 


CAPTURED  A  CONFEDERATE   MAJOR 


WILLIAM  E.  RICKEY, 

Si-wan  t.  Co.  A,  10th  Ohio  Inf. 
Horn  in  Athens  Co.,  O.,  June  1,1841. 


OERGEANT  WILLIAM  E.  RICHEY,  of  Company  A,  Fifteenth 
^  Ohio  Infantry,  was  the  hero  of  a  rare  occurrence  at 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  to-wit :  the  capture  of  a  rebel 
major  on  the  immediate  front  of  the  enemy's  lines.  The 
story  is  told  by  Sergeant  Richey  as  follows : 

"At  the  beginning  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  General 
R.  W.  Johnson's  Division  was  ordered  to  support  General 
Thomas,  whose  corps  constituted  the  left  of  the  Union  line 
of  battle.  The  march  of  Johnson's  men  to  the  position  of 
Thomas  was  a  rapid  one;  the  men  going  almost  on  a  run, 
their  steps  being  quickened  by  the  sound  of  artillery  and 
small  arms,  as  the  battle  had  just  begun  on  the  left. 

"Johnson's  men  had  been  inarching  over  mountains, 

hills  and  valleys  for  more  than  a  month,  and  now,  weary,  foot-sore  and  covered  with 
dust,  they  were  hastening  to  the  scene  of  conflict  on  the  banks  of  the  historic  Chick 
amauga. 

"The  division  went  into  battle  about  noon,  September  19th,  at  Kelly's  farm,  facing 
toward  the  east,  Willich's  Brigade  constituting  the  right  of  the  division. 

"Advancing  through  the  woods,  the  division  soon  became  engaged  and  furiously 
assaulting  the  enemy's  lines,  drove  the  rebels  about  a  mile  and  captured  five  pieces 
of  artillery  which  had  been  doing  much  damage. 

"  The  division  continued  to  drive  the  enemy  until  Willich's  Brigade  halted  near  a 
small  field.  The  division  had  advanced  so  far  that  there  was  no  connection  or  sup 
port  on  either  the  right  or  left.  Firing  had  ceased  and  the  enemy  disappeared.  It 
was  now  late  in  the  afternoon.  However,  a  little  before  dark,  the  rebels,  largely 
re-enforced,  made  another  furious  attack  on  Johnson's  Division,  which  met  a  deter 
mined  resistance.  The  air  was  rent  with  cannon  balls,  shells,  canister,  grape  and 
bullets  and  the  twilight  was  lurid  with  the  fire  of  battle.  This  terrible  conflict  had 


—  267  — 


the  effect  of  throwing 
the  regiments  of  Wil- 
lich's  Brigade  into  one 
solid  line,  sending  death 
and  disorder  into  the 
Confederate  ranks, 
where  firing  soon 
ceased.  For  a  while 
then  there  was  a  lull  in 
the  battle.  At  this 
time  I  was  sent  to  the 
front  with  a  party  of 
comrades,  to  observe 
the  enemy  and  learn,  if 
possible,  the  exact  situ 
ation  on  our  front. 

"  Subsequently  I  ad 
vanced  and  was  soon 
between  the  lines  of 
battle  of  the  two  armies. 
Presently  I  saw  an  offi 
cer  on  horseback  ap 
proaching  me  from  the 
right,  only  a  short  dis 
tance  from  me.  We 

were  no  sooner  side  by  side,  than  I  discovered  that  we  were  enemies.  As  quickly  as 
I  could,  I  said  to  the  man  on  horseback,  in  a  loud,  bold  tone :  'You  are  my  prisoner; 
surrender,  or  I  will  blow  out  your  brains.' 

"  Instantly  the  officer  reached  for  his  pistol,  but,  pointing  my  weapon  at  him,  I 
repeated  my  demand  with  increased  determination  and  ordered  him  to  dismount. 
He  complied  and  became  my  prisoner. 

"He  was  a  rebel  major,  who  had  been  endeavoring  to  arrange  the  Confederate 
lines  of  battle.  While  doing  so,  he  had  ridden  outside  of  his  lines  and  come  in  con 
tact  with  me,  supposing  his  men  to  be  on  the  ground  which  his  captor  occupied." 

Sergeant  Richey  brought  his  prisoner  to  his  lines,  where  he  was  highly  com 
mended  for  his  bold  and  brave  act. 


"YOU    ARE    MY    PRISONER." 


INDISCRETION  BROUGHT  ARREST—BRAVERY 
SECURED  RELEASE 


A.  H.  REED 

1st  Sergeant,  Co.  K.  2nd  Minnesota 

Vol.  Infantry. 
Born  in  Hartford,  Oxford  Co.,  Me., 

March  13, 1835. 


"OERGEANT  REED,  you  are  under  arrest !" 

^  With  these  words  a  sergeant  of  the  guard  ap 
proached  First  Sergeant  A.  H.  Reed,  who,  with  a  com 
rade,  was  at  supper  under  a  "pup-tent"  fly.  Sergeant 
Reed  at  first  considered  the  remark  a  joke,  but  the  other 
soon  convinced  him  that  he  was  in  earnest  by  placing 
him  under  arrest.  It  appeared,  that,  while  encamped  at 
Winchester,  Tenn.,  July,  1868,  Sergeant  Reed  had  pub 
licly  and  indiscreetly  criticised  the  food  of  the  Union 
soldiers.  This  constituted  a  breach  of  discipline  and 
wTas  punished  accordingly.  Sergeant  Reed  was  arrested. 
He  asked  for  a  speedy  trial.  Instead,  he  was  deprived 
of  arms  and  accoutrements,  and  was  marched  off  with 
his  regiment  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains  across 
the  Tennessee  River  to  the  plains  of  Chickamauga,  where 
Bragg's  Confederate  forces  were  concentrating.  An  all- 
night  march  brought  them  close  to  the  enemy  early  Saturday  morning,  September  19. 
The  regiment  unslung  knapsacks,  put  them  in  a  pile  and  left  them  under  guard  with 
the  prisoners,  of  whom  Sergeant  Reed  was  one,  while  the  regiment  itself  hurried 
off  to  meet  the  enemy. 

"Soon  the  musketry  began  to  rattle  and  cannons  to  boom,"  Sergeant  Reed  in 
telling  of  his  interesting  experience  narrates,  "I  said  to  the  guard  and  another 
soldier  under  arrest,  that  I  felt  as  though  we  ought  to  be  at  the  front  helping  the 
'boys.'  'If  the  officers  are  foolish  enough  to  place  me  under  arrest,  I  propose  to  stay 
where  I  belong — in  the  rear,'  the  other  replied.  I  observed,  that,  in  my  opinion,  the 
Government  had  fed,  drilled  and  paid  us  for  just  such  an  occasion  as  this,  and 
should  not  be  blamed  for  the  actions  of  a  few  foolish  officers.  At  any  rate,  I  in 
tended  to  take  part  in  the  fray.  At  first  I  attempted  to  persuade  the  guard,  an  old 
Prussian  soldier,  to  give  me  his  gun,  but  he  said :  '  Oh  no,  I  keep  my  own  gun.' 
And  the  old  fellow  remained  firm  in  his  refusal. 

"  I  then  started  out  alone,  following  the  ambulance  and  sound  of  guns,  until  I 
found  my  regiment,  lying  down  and  under  fire.  I  did  not  have  to  wait  long  before 


Bristol  Station. — Early  in  October,  General  Meade,  whose  force  was  about  68,090,  formed  a  plan  of 
attack  against  Lee,  who,  with  an  inferior  force,  was  also  preparing  for  action.  On  the  14th,  Lee  advanced 
from  Warrenton,  Va.,  in  two  columns.  Hill,  on  the  left,  was  ordered  to  strike  the  railroad  at  Bristol 
Station.  When  he  reached  this  point,  all  of  Meade's  army  had  passed  it,  with  the  exception  of  Warren's 
Corps,  with  which  he  at  once  engaged  in  action.  Hill  was  driven  back,  with  a  Joss  of  4~>'J  men,  taken 
prisoners,  and  five  guns. 


—  269  — 


a  man  was  wounded  some  distance  to  my  right.  I  ran  up  to  him,  got  his  gun,  and 
returned  to  my  company.  Soon  our  lieutenant  was  wounded,  which  left  but  one 
commissioned  officer  with  the  company  It  now  became  my  duty  to  act  in  his  place, 
which  I  did,  but  nevertheless  I  used  the  musket  throughout  the  two  days'  fight." 

In  recognition  of  this  proof  of  true  devotion  to  duty  General  Thomas  issued 
a  special  order  releasing  him  from  arrest  and  restoring  him  to  duty. 


AT  the  storming  of  Missionary  Ridge,  November  25,  1863,  Sergeant  Heed's  regi 
ment  was  placed  in  the  front  line  covering  Van  Dever's  Brigade,  of  Baird's  Division, 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps.  In  the  absence  of  a  commissioned  officer,  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  his  company,  which  was  the  center  and  color  company  of  the  regiment. 

"We  were  to  move  forward,"  Sergeant  Reed  goes  on  to  tell,  "on  the  first  line  of 
the  enemy's  works  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  at  the  signal  of  the  firing  of  three  can 
nons.  This  was  done  and  the  line  of  works  were  carried  without  much  trouble. 

"Where  the  remnant  of  my  company  went  over  the  works,  two  cannons  were 
captured.  I  ordered  the  pieces  turned  on  the  fleeing  enemy,  but  no  ammunition 
could  be  found.  I  dashed  off  to  the  left  in  an  oblique  course  and  soon  came  upon  two 
rebels  who  had  just  hitched  four  iron  gray  horses  to  a  caisson.  I  demanded  their 
surrender,  but  was  refused,  and  aiming  at  a  man  on  one  of  the  horses,  fired.  As  I 
was  reloading,  a  Minie  ball  shattered  my  arm  from  elbow  to  shoulder.  I  fell  and 
lay  within  a  few  rods  of  where  the  horses  and  caisson  stood,  until  firing  ceased,  and 
the  enemy  fled,  when  I  got  a  wounded  soldier  to  help  me  put  a  tourniquet  on  my 
arm  to  stop  the  flow  of  blood,  and  then  walked  to  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  from 
where  I  was  taken  to  a  hospital  in  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 


AMMUNITION  FROM  THE  DEAD 


WILLIAM  G.  WHITNEY, 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  llth  Mich.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 

Born  in  Allen,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.. 

Dec.  13, 1840. 


T  IEUTENANT  WILLIAM  G.  WHITNEY,  of  Company  B,  Elev- 
*— '  enth  Michigan  Infantry,  tells  of  a  unique  way  of  re 
plenishing  the  empty  cartridge  pouches  of  the  men  of 
his  company  as  follows : 

"Noon  of  the  20th  of  September,  1863,  found  our 
brigade— Stanley's— Negley's  Division,  Thomas'  Corps, 
on  Snodgrass  Hill,  a  part  of  Missionary  Ridge.  We  were 
about  120  yards  east  of  the  Snodgrass  House.  The  bri 
gade  consisted  of  the  Nineteenth  Illinois,  Eighteenth  Ohio 
and  Eleventh  Michigan,  about  700  men,  placed  in  line  of 
battle  as  follows:  Nineteenth  Illinois  on  the  right, 
Eleventh  Michigan  on  the  left,  and  the  Eighteenth  Ohio 
in  reserve.  We  were  expected  to  repel  the  assault 
of  Preston's  and  Kershaw's  Divisions  of  Confederate 


—  270  — 

infantry.  Their  losses  alone  during  the  afternoon  were  twenty  per  centum  more  than 
the  whole  number  of  our  brigade.  During  a  lull  in  the  storm  of  battle  we  threw 
up  a  temporary  breastwork  of  stone,  rails  and  logs.  About  5  P.  M.,  after  repulsing 
five  successive  charges  of  the  enemy,  we  found  ourselves  without  ammunition.  The 
enemy  were  about  100  yards  in  our  front,  preparing  for  another  charge,  and  their 
sharpshooters  were  firing  at  every  man  who  showed  his  head  above  our  light  works. 
Their  dead  and  wounded  lay  in  great  numbers,  right  up  to  our  works.  They  were 


'I  HURRIEDLY  PASSED  ALONG  THE  FRONT,  CUTTING  OFF 


armed  with  Enfield  rifles  of  the  same  calibre  as  our  Springfield  rifles.  I  don't  know 
what  prompted  me,  but  I  took  my  knife  from  my  pocket,  stepped  over  the  works, 
and,  while  my  company  cheered  and  the  rebels  made  a  target  of  me,  I  hurriedly 
passed  along  the  front,  cutting  off  the  cartridge  boxes  of  the  dead  and  wounded,  and 
threw  them  over  to  my  company.  Thus  I  secured  a  few  rounds  for  each  of  my  men. 
The  enemy  made  one  more  charge  and  was  again  repulsed.  Darkness  settled  down 
on  us,  and  ended  the  terrible  battle  of  Chickamauga." 


—  273  — 


. . 


PICK  OFF  THE  ARTILLERISTS!" 


'"PHE  battle  of  Wauhatchie,  Term.,  on  October 


MOSES  VEALE, 

Captain,  Co.  F.  loath  Pennsylvania  Vol.  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attained  :    Major. 


28,  1863,  was  fought  by  General  J.  W. 
Geary,  commanding  the  Second  Division  of  the 
Twelfth  Army  Corps,  against  General  Longstreet's 
Division  of  General  Lee's  Army  Corps. 

General  Geary  had  at  his  disposal,  about  1,500 
men,  all  told. 

The  presence  of  the  rebels  was  well  known  to 
General  Geary,  but  his  position  was  difficult  to 
ascertain.  The  first  information  on  this  score 
was  furnished  by  a  woman  who  told  one  of  the 
officers  that  the  rebels  were  gathered  at  the  foot 
of  Lookout  Mountain.  General  Geary  ordered 
pickets  to  be  placed  and  enjoined  the  utmost 
vigilance  upon  the  regimental  commanders. 

Shortly  after  midnight  the  Union  outposts 
gave  the  alarm  and  the  entire  command  was  put 

under  arms  at  once.  A  fitful  moon  cast  but  a  dim  light,  sufficiently  only  to  see  a 
body  of  men  at  a  distance  of  no  more  than  100  yards,  and  during  the  subsequent 
fierce  fight  the  whereabouts  of  the  combatants  could  be  revealed  only  by  the  flashes 
of  the  firearms.  The  Federal  position  was  not  a  very  favorable  one.  No  pro 
tection  was  offered,  except  a  fence,  which,  was  improved  under  fire,  into  a  rude 
breastwork.  For  three  hours  the  contest  raged  along  the  whole  line. 

"Pick  off  the  artillerist!"  the  rebels  exclaimed.  Captain  C.  A.  Atwell,  who 
commanded  one  section  of  artillery,  fell,  mortally  wounded ;  Lieutenant  E.  R. 
Geary,  commander  of  the  other  section,  son  of  the  general,  was  killed.  The  men 
and  horses  fell  so  rapidly  that  only  two  guns  could  be  worked  after  the  attack, 
Still  the  men  refused  to  yield  to  the  rebel  onslaught.  General  Geary's  men  stub 
bornly  maintained  their  ground  and  held  the  enemy  at  bay  by  a  death  dealing  fire. 

Among  the  most  gallant  of  the  leaders  was  Captain  Moses  Veale  of  Company  F, 
One  hundred  and  ninth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  who  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight. 
He  and  his  men  fought  near  one  gun  of  the  battery  at  the  most  critical  period  of 
the  battle.  General  Geary  speaks  of  his  coolness,  zeal,  judgment  and  courage  in  the 
most  flattering  expressions.  The  Captain  was  struck  four  times  by  the  enemy's 
bullets,  one  ball  passing  through  his  right  shoulder.  His  horse,  too,  was  shot  from 
under  him,  but,  nevertheless  the  brave  soldier  refused  to  give  up  or  leave  his  post. 
He  remained  at  the  head  of  his  company,  directing  its  telling  fire,  until  the  enemy 
realizing  their  numerical  strength  availed  them  nothing  as  against  such  bravery 
and  valor,  retired  and  left  the  victors  of  that  bloody  night. 


—  274  — 


HE  SAVED  HIS  GUNS 


WILLIAM  MARLAND, 

Lieutenant,  2nd    Independent  Bat 
tery.  Mass.  L.  A. 
Highest  rank  attained  :  Brevet- 
Major. 

Born  at  Andover.  Mass., 
March  11,1839. 


A  N  INSTANCE  where  light  artillery  charged  a  body  of 
*»  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  and  scored  a  com 
plete  success,  occurred  at  Grand  Coteau,  La.,  1863.  The 
Second  Independent  Battery,  Massachusetts  Light  Artil 
lery,  accomplished  this  extraordinary  feat.  How  it  was 
done  is  told  by  Lieutenant  William  Marland. 

"  In  obedience  to  orders,"  he  narrates,  "  to  report  to 
General  Burbridge  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  I  har 
nessed  up  at  4  A.  M.  on  November  3,  1863  ;  remained  so 
for  fully  seven  hours,  when  I  was  ordered  to  unharness ; 
the  pickets  firing  all  the  while.  About  two  hours  later, 
at  12:45  P.  M.  the  firing  became  general.  Hearing  the 
cavalry  buglers  blow  'boots  and  saddles'  I  began  to  harness  up  on  my  own  responsi 
bility,  but  was  attacked  in  camp  before  I  could  get  harnessed.  The  enemy  being 
within  400  yards  of  me,  I  opened  on  them  with  canister  and  percussion  shell,  which 
checked  their  advance  and  drove  them  to  the  right.  I  limbered  to  the  front  and  ad 
vanced  to  the  fork  of  the  road,  which  is  about  100  yards,  went  into  battery  and  fired 
a  few  shots  until  all  my  support  had  left  me.  Finding  it  too  warm,  I  limbered  to  the 
rear  and  moved  about  300  yards.  Discovering  the  enemy  in  my  rear  and  on  my 
right,  I  fired  to  the  right  about  fifty  shots  and  was  charged  upon  on  three  sides. 
Thus  we  were  completely  surrounded.  To  add  to  the  seriousness  of  the  situation, 
I  discovered  that  my  support  had  left  me  and  been  captured. 

"Here  we  were — a  mere  handful,  surrounded  by  an  overwhelming  force  of 
mounted  troops!  I  sent  my  orderly  to  see  if  the  enemy  held  the  bridge.  He  came 
back  and  reported  that  they  did.  I  moved  to  the  edge  of  the  timber  and  found  the 
enemy  drawn  up  in  line.  Only  one  course  was  now  open  to  us — to  cut  our  way 
through  their  lines.  My  mind  was  quickly  made  up.  I  gave  the  order:  'Limber  to 
the  rear  ;  caissons  to  the  left  of  pieces  ;  cannoners  in  line  with  lead  drivers ;  draw 
revolvers  and  charge  ! '  We  made  straight  for  the  rebels.  Strange  to  say,  they  broke 
right  and  left.  We  dashed  through  the  gap  thus  made  and  cut  our  way  with  only 
two  of  our  men  taken  prisoners.  The  enemy  drove  us  two  miles  till  we  reached  the 
commands  of  Generals  Cameron  and  McGinnis,  who  were  hastening  to  our  support." 


(wraiul  Cotoau,  La.— On  the  morning  of  November  3,  1863,  the  Confederates  attacked  the  Third  Divi 
sion,  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  under  command  of  General  Burbridge,  in  overwhelming  force.  The  impetus 
of  the  rebel  attack  at  first,  drove  the  Union  men  back  in  some  confusion.  The  timely  arrival  of  re-enforce 
ments  enabled  General  Hut-bridge  not  only  to  check  the  further  advance  of  the  enemy,  but  to  drive  them 
off  the.  ground  already  gained.  The  Union  loss  though  slight,  was  somewhat  greater  than  that  of  the  enemy. 


—  275- 

No  more  fitting  tribute  to  the  gallantry,  vim  and  determination  of  Lieutenant 
Marland  can  be  paid  than  is  expressed  by  General  C.  C.  Washburn,  who,  in  his 
official  report,  reports  the  incident  thus:  "The  bringing  off  of  the  section  of  Nim's 
battery,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Marland,  after  the  regiment  sent  to  its  support 
had  surrendered,  extorted  the  admiration  of  every  beholder." 


"WE  DASHED  THROUGH  THEIR  LINES." 


A  MURDEROUS  FIGHT  IN  THE  DARK 


/CAPTAIN  WALTER  G.  MORRILL  of  the  Twentieth  Maine  Infantry,  won  his  Medal  of 
^-->     Honor  at  the  battle  of  Rappahannock  Station,  November  7,  1863. 

The  Confederate  position  at  that  point  was  skillfully  chosen.  It  wras  a  fortified 
semi-circle  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  just  above  the  point  where  the 
old  Orange  and  Alexander  Railroad  crosses  the  river.  The  Confederate  right  of  these 
entrenchments  was  at  the  bank  of  the  river  upon  a  sharp  bluff,  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  railroad  itself ;  thence  following  the  crest  of  hills  along  the  river  these  en 
trenchments  swept  off  up-river  until  they  again  reached  the  bank  of  the  water 
course  a  third  of  a  mile  further  up.  In  front  of  the  position,  and  on  all  sides,  the 
ground  was  open  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  with  absolutely  nothing  to  cover  the 
approach  of  troops.  The  main  body  of  General  Lee's  army  was  immediately  south 


—  276  — 


WALTER  G. 

MORRILL, 

Captain, 20th  Maine  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Lieut. - 

Colonel. 

Born  at  Williamsburg,  Me  , 
Nov.  13, 1840. 


of  the  Kappahannock  ;  the  Third,  Fifth 
and  Sixth  Corps  of  Meade's  army  ap 
proached  the  position  from  the  north  and 
east.  Back  of .  the  Confederate  entrench 
ments  the  river  was  too  deep  to  ford,  but 
the  position  was  reached  from  the  south 
bank  by  a  pontoon  bridge,  where  Confed 
erate  artillery  was  trained  to  sweep  the 
approaches  to  the  works,  which  were  held 
by  two  brigades  of  General  Jubal  A.  Ear- 
ly's  Division. 

The  Union  forces,  across  the  open 
ground,  were  compelled  to  approach  this 
position  cautiously,  and  with  skirmishers 

only.  Over  the  vast  plain  down  the  river  and  below  the  railway,  came  the  skirmish 
line  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  those  nearest  the  works  of  the  enemy  being  men  from  the 
Twentieth  Maine,  commanded  by  Captain  Morrill.  They  approached  the  right  flank 
of  the  Confederate  position.  Directly  in  front  of  the  works  were  skirmishers  from 
the  Sixth  Corps,  consisting  of  five  companies  of  the  Sixth  Maine  who  joined  their 
line  at  the  railway.  Slowly  the  Confederate  skirmishers  were  pressed  back  until  they 
were  driven  into  the  works,  over  a  bare  and  bleak  field.  A  road  about  150  yards 
from  the  entrenchments  was  reached  by  the  Sixth  Maine,  and  under  the  cover  of  a 
shallow  ditch  a  long  halt  was  made.  Captain  Morrill  advanced  his  men  and  kept 
in  touch  with  the  other  troops  at  the  railwa}T.  As  darkness  approached,  the 
skirmish  line  of  the  Sixth  Maine  was  doubled  with  the  other  five  companies,  and 
General  D.  A.  Russell,  commanding,  sent  word  along  the  line  thus  formed  that  they 
were  to  assault  and  carry  the  enemy's  works  in  front.  The  undertaking  was 
perilous  to  the  last  degree,  and  impossible  except  in  a  wild  transport  of  sublime 
heroism.  There  were  no  orders  for  Captain  Morrill's  men  to  join  in  this  assault  and 
share  its  perils  and  glory.  Though  it  promised  the  destruction  of  all  who  engaged 
in  it,  Captain  Morrill  could  not  see  his  comrades  lead  such  a  forlorn  hope  and  not 
go  with  them.  He  explained  the  situation  to  his  men  and  called  for  volunteers 
to  support  the  "Old  Sixth."  About  fifty  responded  and  he  held  them  in  readiness 
for  the  advance  when  it  came.  In  the  flank  of  the  enemy's  works  towards  him, 
just  across  the  railway  and  next  to  the  river,  was  an  open  passage  for  a  road.  Cap 
tain  Morrill  with  a  quick  eye  and  keen  judgment,  selected  this  weak  point  for  attack. 
When  the  dusk  had  deepened  so  that  the  real  numbers  of  the  assaulting  line 
could  not  be  seen  by  the  Confederates,  General  Russell  set  his  little  force  in  motion, 
and  with  his  staff,  joined  in  the  terrible  charge.  The  Sixth  Maine's  double  line  of 
skirmishers  did  not  number  three  hundred,  all  told.  But  with  a  yell  and  a  "tiger" 
which  rent  the  skies  and  told  of  a  force  fourfold  as  large,  they  rushed  to  the  fray. 
In  an  instant  the  works  in  their  front  were  a  sheet  of  solid  flame ;  the  air  was  hot 


•277 


with  the  hiss  of  Minie  balls ;  grape  and  canister  tore  and  decimated  their  lines ; 
wilder  and  fiercer  their  yells  rung  upon  the  night  as  they  rushed  upon  the  foe. 
They  reached  the  works  however,  and  at  points  drove  out  brave  men  far  more  num 
erous  than  themselves ;  at  other  points  they  seemed  swallowred  up  in  the  masses  of 
their  unfaltering  adversaries.  Gathering  themselves  together  they  kept  up  the  fight 
in  groups,  but  it  seemed  as  if  no  human  courage  and  valor  could  conquer  the 
works  they  had  reached.  They  began  to  sweep  along  the  works  at  last  and  gained 


THEY  RUSHED  UPON  THE  FOE. 


momen 
tum  as  they 
went.  Captain 
Morrill  and  his 
little  band  insured 
success.     Dashing  up 
on  the  enemy's  flank 
through  the  open  roadway, 
no   storm   of    lead   and   iron 

could  turn  them  back.  The  enemy  feared  that  a  great  force  was  hammering  his 
flank  and  rear,  and  gave  way,  completing  the  confusion  and  defeat.  Sweeping 
along  the  works  he  so  gallantly  helped  to  empty,  Captain  Morrill  soon  joined  the 
"Old  Sixth,"  and  the  entrenchments  beyond  the  point  where  the  pontoon  bridge 
was  laid  were  wrested  from  the  enemy.  This  cut  off  their  own  retreat  and  brought 
new  peril  to  the  now  greatly  reduced  Union  force  which  had  won  unparalled 
victory.  Gathering  themselves  together  in  the  upper  portion  of  their  works  the 


—  278  — 

Confederates  by  counter  attack  sought  to  open  a  way  to  the  bridge.  Minutes  were 
as  ages  to  the  little  band  which  repulsed  these  attacks  and  still  held  their  ground. 
The  Fifth  Wisconsin  came  up  to  the  support  of  the  Sixth  Maine,  and  then, — then 
victory  was  plucked  from  the  "jaws  of  death  and  the  mouth  of  hell." 

Other  forces  then  advanced  and  received  the  surrender  of  the  penned  up  enemy 
with  little  further  fighting.  There  were  captured  eight  battle  flags,  four  pieces  of 
artillery  and  1,600  men. 


"FORM  ON  ME" 


FREDERICK  W.  SWIFT, 

Lieut-Col.,  17th  Mich.  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained:    Bvt.  Brig-Gen. 

r.s.v. 

Mansfield  Center,  Conn.,  Jan.  30, 1831. 


T  lEUTENANT-CoLONEL  F.  W.  Swift,  of  the  Seven- 
*— '  teenth  Michigan  Infantry,  won  his  medal  by 
seizing  the  colors  after  three  color-bearers  had  been 
shot  down,  and  rallying  the  regiment,  which  had 
become  demoralized  and  was  in  imminent  danger 
of  capture.  The  incident  occurred  on  November  16, 
1863.  General  Burnside,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
Union  forces  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  was  being  forced 
back  by  General  Longstreet,  who  had  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  thousand  men,  more  than  double  Burnside's 
force.  Burnside  had  moved  his  little  army  to  Huff's 
Ferry  below  London,  with  the  intention  of  prevent 
ing  Longstreet  from  crossing  the  river.  The  Union 
Army  was  ordered  to  retire  towards  Knoxville,  which  it 
did,  closely  followed  by  Longstreet.  Before  daybreak  on  the  16th,  orders  were  given 
to  destroy  all  the  army  supplies  at  Lenoir,  and  more  than  one  hundred  wagons  and 
their  contents  were  burned,  the  animals  being  used  to  drag  the  guns  as  the  roads 
were  very  heavy.  After  the  destruction  of  the  stores  and  ammunition,  the  Seven 
teenth  Michigan  was  detached  to  act  as  rearguard  of  the  brigade,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Comstock  was  ordered  to  keep  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  on  the  rear  and 
flanks  of  the  regiment.  In  this  order,  the  Union  Army  moved  back  to  Turkey  Creek, 
a  small  stream  six  or  eight  miles  east  of  Lenoir  Station.  The  rest  of  the  story  is 
best  told  by  Major  Swift.  He  says  : 

"  Here  the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy  came  up  and  opened  tire  on  our  line  of 
skirmishers,  advancing  rapidly  with  the  intention  of  cutting  us  off  from  the  rest  of 
the  command.  Our  men  began  to  fall  back,  and  Colonel  Comstock,  who  had  been 
directed  to  hold  the  line  of  the  creek  as  long  as  practicable  to  enable  the  brigade  to 
choose  ground  for  the  defense,  hung  on  to  his  position  until  the  enemy  began  cross 
ing  the  creek  above  and  below  and  enfiladed  us.  I  urged  the  colonel  to  move  the 


regiment  across  the  creek  and  up  the  slope  on  the  east  side,  but  he  understood  his 
orders  to  mean  that  he  must  hold  the  creek  at  all  hazards.  The  men  became 
demoralized,  and  were  already  crossing  the  creek  without  orders. 

"  Fearing  a  stampede,  I  assumed  the  responsibility  of  moving  the  regiment  across 
the  creek  and  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill  on  the  other  side.  One  of  the  color-guard  was 
killed,  another  had  his  eye  shot  out,  and  a  third  was  seriously  wounded.  Seeing  the 
colors  fall,  I  snatched  them  up  and  called  to  the  men:  'We  have  fallen  back  just 
far  enough;  we  will  form  here.' 

"  Some  one  asked :     '  Who  shall  we  form  on  ? '  and  I  replied  :     '  Form  on  me. 

"  The  men  obeyed  and  formed  rapidly  in  order, 
and  were  able  with  a  well  directed  tire  to  check 
the  advance  of  the  enemy,  who  had  crossed  the 
ravine,  and  were  now  advancing  at  the  charge.     A 
counter  charge  was  made  by  our  regiment,  and 
the  enemy  fled  precipitately,  after  which  we  re 
sumed  our  retreat  slowly  and  in  good  order. 

"Sergeant  Morgan  Bowling,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  in  the  old  distillery,  where  we  had  left 
a  party  of  sharpshooters  to  check  the  enemy's 
advance,  told  us  afterwards  that  our  charge 
had  produced  a  wonderful  result.     He  said 
that    the    enemy    had   run 
back   in  a  panic,  and   did 
not    stop    till    they  had 
recrossed  the  creek. 

"At  the  time  our 
charge  was  delivered, 
General  Longstreet  had 
alighted  on  the  further 
bank  of  the  creek  to 
question  the  prisoners 
and  when  he  saw  his 
men  running  in  con 
fusion,  he  galloped  off 
and  ordered  up  the  re 
serves.  A  moment  after 
he  had  ridden  away,  a 
shot  from  our  cannon 
struck  the  exact  spot 
where  he  had  been 
standing."  "WE  WILL  FORM  HERE. 


280  — 


RISKED  THE  DEATH  OF  A  SPY 


CORNELIUS  M.  HADLEY, 

Sergeant.  9th  Michigan  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Sandy  Creek.  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  27, 1838. 


SERGEANT  CORNELIUS  M.  HADLEY,  of  the  Ninth 
Michigan  Cavalry,  earned  his  Medal  of 
Honor  by  a  bold  and  venturesome  trip  into  the 
enemy's  country  in  the  disguise  of  a  Confed 
erate  to  deliver  dispatches  entrusted  to  him. 
Had  he  been  captured  in  this  disguise,  his  fate 
would  have  been  that  of  a  spy — hanged  at  the 
gallows. 

Sergeant  Hadley,  in  recalling  the  incidents 
of  his  journey,  says : 

"General  Wilcox  was  commanding  the 
forces  in  and  around  Cumberland  Gap,  in 
November,  1863,  when  he  received  a  dispatch 
from  General  Grant  at  Chattanooga,  to  be  forwarded  to  General  Burnside,  who  was 
besieged  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  with  all  his  communications  cut.  The  dispatch  read : 

'I  shall  attack  Bragg  on  the  21st,  and  if  successful,  will  start  immediately  to  the  relief  of  Knox 
ville,  if  you  can  hold  out.  GRANT.' 

"General  Wilcox  instructed  Brigadier-General  Gerrard  to  choose  two  sergeants  of 
the  Ninth  Michigan  Cavalry,  and  two  from  the  Seventh  Ohio,  to  carry  the  dispatch 
into  Knoxville.  Sergeant  Rowe  and  I  were  sent  for.  When  we  arrived  at  head 
quarters,  we  found  the  two  Ohio  sergeants.  The  general  read  the  dispatch  and 
asked  us  if  we  were  were  willing  to  run  the  risk  of  carrying  it  into  Knoxville.  We 
consented,  and  were  sent  on  our  mission  without  further  instructions.  A  disguise 
and  meeting  at  the  Clinch  River  was  agreed  on.  My  bunkmate,  brought,  me  a  Con 
federate  uniform  that  we  had  captured  a  few  days  before,  and  as  I  started  off  in 
the  rain  and  dark,  he  said :  '  I  shall  never  see  you  again.  What  shall  I  tell  your 
relatives  ? '  I  replied :  '  Tell  them  that  I  never  showed  the  white  feather.' 

"  We  met  at  Clinch  River,  a  mile  out  of  camp,  and  I  was  disappointed  to  see  that 
the  Ohio  boys  were  wearing  full  uniform.  They  could  not  get  a  disguise,  and  neither 
could  Rowe.  We  crossed  the  mountains  and  Holston  River  together  and  then 
separated,  the  Ohioans  taking  one  road  and  Rowe  and  I  another. 

"Hard  riding  had  used  up  my  horse  at  2  P.  M.,  and  I  had  to  borrow  another 
from  a  stable  near  by,  the  owner  protesting.  At  four  o'clock  we  passed  New  Market, 
and  were  now  within  sound  of  our  artillery,  but  with  two  rivers  and  one  range 
of  mountains  to  cross,  and  twenty  thousand  rebels  to  pass.  We  succeeded  in  cross 
ing  Bull  Mountain  and  French  Broad  River,  then  going  south  of  the  city,  we  reached 
our  lines  near  Knoxville.  Here  Sergeant  Rowe  was  taken  sick,  and  T  rode  alone 
into  the  city,  reaching  General  Burnside's  headquarters  at  9  P.  M.,  after  having  been 
continual!  v  in  the  saddle  for  nineteen  hours. 


—  281  — 

"  I  expected  to  remain  in  Knoxville  until  the  siege  was  raised,  and  was  surprised 
when  General  Burnside  asked  me  to  undertake  to  return  with  dispatches  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Taking  me  into  a  private  room,  he  produced  four  dispatches 
written  on  tissue  paper,  one  to  General  Wilcox,  one  to  General  Grant,  one  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  one  to  Mrs.  Burnside,  in  Rhode  Island,  and  placing  them 
in  my  revolver,  he  said  :  '  Sergeant  Hadley,  if  captured,  be  sure  to  fire  off  your  revol 
ver  before  surrendering.' 

"After  passing  the  last  picket,  I  found  Sergeant  Rowe  better  and  determined  to 
return  with  me.  1  cannot  tell  how  long  we  manoeuvred  before  we  got  through  the 
enemy's  lines,  but  all  at  once,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  we  were  descend 
ing  Clinch  Mountain,  we  discovered  the  camp  fires  of  some  rebels,  and  had  gone  out 
but  a  few  steps  when  we  were  ordered  to  'Halt.'  We  turned  to  retreat,  but  a  volley 
was  fired  at  us.  Our  horses  being  jaded,  the  rebels  gained  on  us,  so  we  determined 
to  dismount,  and  foot  the  rough  mountain. 

"Rowe  thought  he  could  evade  the  rebels  by  lying  down,  but  they  stumbled  over 
him,  and  he  was  captured  and  sent  to  Andersonville.  As  for  me,  I  could  take  no 
chances,  for  I  was  wearing  a  Confederate  uniform  and  I  knew  I  would  be  executed 
as  a  spy  if  I  was  caught.  I  kept  on  around  the  side  of  the  mountain  till  I  was 
exhausted  and  could  not  go  a  step  farther.  I  found  a  big  hollow  log  that  had  been 
split  open,  and  I  lay  down  in  that  with  my  revolver  under  my  head. 

"  When  I  awoke  it  was  daylight  and  I  could  hear  the  rebel  pickets  talking  close 
by  me;  they  had  captured  our  horses  and  were  looking  for  me.  I  was  relieved  when 
I  heard  their  officers  calling  them  in.  Watching  my  chance  I  crept  down  the 
mountain,  passed  between  their  pickets,  and  crossed  the  road  about  eighty  rods  from 
their  main  camp. 

"I  came  to  a  house  which  fortunately  was  occupied  by  a  Union  woman.  She 
told  me  that  her  husband  was  hiding  in  the  mountain,  and  that  the  rebels  had 
searched  her  house  for  him  three  times  that  morning.  She  pointed  out  a  ravine,  by 
following  which  I  could  get  across  the  valley  without  being  seen,  and  strike  the 
timber.  I  followed  her  directions  and  came  to  a  road  at  the  other  end  of  the  timber. 
While  I  was  considering  which  direction  I  should  take,  a  rebel  horseman  came  rid 
ing  slowly  along.  I  dropped  on  one  knee  and  drew  my  revolver  on  him,  but  he 
passed  within  ten  feet  of  me  without  seeing  me. 

"I  got  to  the  Clinch  River  at  last  and  found  it  too  high  to  swim  across.  There 
was  no  ferry  and  no  one  was  willing  to  row  me  across,  as  one  bank  was  lined  with 
rebels  and  the  other  with  Northern  troops.  Finally  I  got  a  man  to  attempt  it,  and 
as  we  got  to  the  other  shore,  a  squad  of  Union  soldiers  came  down  to  meet  us.  I 
told  them  who  I  was,  and  they  gave  me  a  horse.  I  rode  to  General  Wilcox's  head 
quarters,  where  I  delivered  my  dispatches. 

"  I  was  completely  exhausted,  for  I  had  ridden  and  walked  over  100  miles  and 
had  tired  out  two  horses,  but  was  thankful  to  have  escaped  with  my  life,  and  accom 
plished  the  purpose  of  my  journey." 


—  282  — 


THOUGH  SICK,  BRAVELY  LED  HIS  MEN 


TT  was  for  an  act  of  superlative  bravery,  performed 
1  altogether  outside  of  the  line  of  his  duty,  that  the 
Medal  of  Honor  was  conferred  on  Lieutenant  John  J. 
Toffey,  of  Company  G,  Thirty-third  New  Jersey  Volun 
teers.  At  a  time  when  he  ought  to  have  been  in  the 
hospital,  he  rushed  into  almost  certain  death  to  lead  a 
storming  party,  the  officers  of  which  had  all  been  shot 
down.  He  thus  describes  his  feat : 

"For  several  days  prior  to  the  battle  of  Chattanooga 
I  had  been  excused  from  duty  on  account  of  illness,  and 
the  night  before  the  battle  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment 
ordered  me  into  hospital,  telling  me  that  I  was  not  able 
to  take  part  in  the  engagement  that  we  were  expecting. 
I  was  determined  not  to  be  deprived  of  my  share  of  the 
excitement,  so  I  tore  up  the  permit  he  had  given  me  and 

marched  with  the  regiment.  We  were  ordered  to  charge  a  very  strong  position  on 
the  extreme  right  of  the  rebel  line.  It  was  well  fortified  and  surrounded  by  dense 
woods,  while  in  front  there  was  an  open  field  over  which  we  had  to  charge. 

"  Companies  I  and  A,  as  they  emerged  into  the  open,  were  met  with  a  murderous 
fire  from  the  entrenched  enemy  and  the  swarms  of  sharpshooters  in  the  woods  and 
buildings  that  commanded  the  front  of  the  position.  They  were  directing  their 
attention  to  the  officers,  and  at  the  first  fire,  Captain  Waldron,  of  Company  I,  was 
shot  down,  with  a  bullet  through  his  head,  and  Captain  Boggs,  of  Company  A,  was 
mortally  wounded. 

"Seeing  their  officers  fall,  the  men  became  demoralized.  The  line  wavered  and 
began  to  fall  back  in  disorder.  As  these  two  companies  held  the  key  to  our  position 


JOHN  J.  TOFFEY, 

1st  Lieutenant,  Co.  G,  Sad  N.  J.  Inf. 
Born  at  Quaker  Hill,  N.Y.,  June  1,1844. 


Chattanooga. — After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Rosecrans,  in  a  state  of  siege  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
Was  re-enforced  by  Hooker  with  two  corps,  General  Sherman  witli  a  division,  and  General  Grant,  who,  at 
this  time  in  command  of  the  western  armies,  took  the  direction  of  affairs  at  Chattanooga. 

The  left  wing  of  the  Confederates  rested  on  Lookout  Mountain,  the  right  on  Missionary  Ridge. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  Hooker's  Corps  gained  a  position  at  the  mouth  of  Lookout  Creek,  facing  the 
mountain,  and,  on  the  24th,  the  assault  was  made  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  In  two 
hours,  the  rebel  riflepits  were  carried.  The  charge  was  continued  up  the  mountain  in  the  face  of  a  terrific 
fire,  and,  at  two  o'clock,  Hooker  held  the  position  on  the  summit,  the  Confederates  retreating  to  Mission 
ary  Ridge. 

The  following  morning  Hooker  renewed  the  battle  at  the  southwestern  end  of  the  Ridge,  General 
Sherman  gained  a  lodgement  on  the  northeastern  declivity,  while  General  Thomas  waited  at  Orchard 
Knob.  At  two  o'clock,  General  Grant  gave  the  order  for  a  general  assault.  The  Union  soldiers  charged  to 
the  summit  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  the  rebels  were  completely  routed. 

Bragg  withdrew  his  force  into  Georgia,  having  sustained  a  loss  of  nearly  10,000.  The  Union  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  were  5,616. 


—  283- 


and  were  intended  to  lead  the  attack,  something  had  to  be  done.  Colonel  George 
W.  Mindil  ordered  me  to  hasten  to  the  right  and  take  command  of  that  part  of  the 
line,  all  the  officers  being  killed  or  wounded. 

"I  ran  across  the  open  field  and  reached  the  advance  line  in  time  to  prevent  it 
from  breaking.  I  reformed  the  line  and  we  again  charged  the  almost  impregnable 
position  in  the  face  of  an  accurate  and  deadly  tire.  Just  as  we  were  carrying  the 
position  I  received  a  severe  wound,  which  disabled  me  permanently,  and  my  military 
career  was  brought  to  a  close." 

Colonel  Mindil  stated  in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  that  "the  superla 
tively  brave  conduct  of  First  Lieutenant  John  J.  Toffey,  saved  the  position,  and 
enabled  us  on  the  following  morning  to  press  forward  the  entire  line,  and  to  unite 
the  lines  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  with  those  of  General  Sherman's  Army  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Chickamauga." 


RISKED  HIS  LIFE  FOR  HIS  COMRADES 


OERGEANT  JOHN  KIGGINS,  Company  D, 
^  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New 
York  Volunteers,  won  his  Medal  of 
Honor  by  risking  his  life  to  save  his 
comrades,  who  were  being  fired  upon 
by  their  own  batteries,  at  the  battle  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn.,  November 
24,  1863.  Captain  George  K.  Collins 
thus  describes  the  incident : 

"Our  regiment  had  charged  the 
enemy  on  the  heights  above  the  Craven 
House,  when  a  Union  battery  in  the 
valley  below,  opened  a  damaging  fire 
upon  us,  mistaking  us  for  the  enemy. 
Sergeant  Kiggins.  color-bearer  of  the 
regiment,  advanced  to  a  point  between 
the  two  lines,  got  up  on  a  stump  and 
waved  his  flag  to  attract  the  attention 
of  the  artillerymen,  thus  averting  what 
threatened  to  be  a  serious  disaster.  In 
accomplishing  this  brave  deed,  he  drew 
the  enemy's  fire  upon  himself,  and  nine 

bullet  holes  in  his  clothing,  besides  one  through  his  cap,  which  left  its  mark  upon 
his  scalp,  and  one  through  his  thigh,  attested  the  accuracy  of  the  enemy's  fire." 


• 


JOHN  KIGGINS, 
Sergeant,  Co.  I),  14l»th  X.  Y.  Inf. 


—  284  — 


PHILLIP  GOETTEL  was  a  corporal  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New  York 
Infantry.     At  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  November  24, 1863,  his  regiment 


made  a  charge  over  fields  and  fences,  through  woods  and 
against  a  severe  fire  of  the  enemy.     The  Confederates 
fidence  and  great  in   strength.      They  assailed 
Union    line   with   almost    irresistible   fierce- 
was   met   with   an   unwavering  front.     A 
was  poured  into  the  ranks,  and  the  enemy 

In  the  face  of  a  steady  outpouring 
ter,     Corporal    Goettel    rushed 
ceeded  in  capturing  a  Confeder- 
quite  a  daring  feat,  but  still 
to  keep  the  trophy 


swamps    and 
were  full  of  con- 
the  center  of  the 
ness,  but  the  onset 
steady,    telling    fire 
soon  gave  ground, 
of  grape  an  canis- 
forward    and    suc- 
ate  flag.     This  was 
more  difficult  it  was 
and   carry  it  back 
to    his   own    lines. 
The  rebels  were  not 
willing  to    lose   their 
colors  without  making 
at  least  a  desperate  attempt 
to  save  them,  and  thus  Cor 
poral  Goettel  became  a  verit 
able    human    target     as    he 
rushed    back    to    his    ranks. 
However,   he    escaped    injury  and 
was  at  once  made  the  recipient  of 
many  congratulations  from  his 
comrades   and  warm  praises 
from  his  superiors.    A  week 
lapsed     before     Corporal 
Goettel    turned   the   cap 
tured    flag     over    to    his 
quartermaster.   In  the  heat 
of  engagements  and  fights  he 
had  forgotten  his  own  brave  act 
and  the  importance  of  his  prize. 


T  the  same  battle  another  Confederate 

SIGNALLING  TO  CEASE  FIRING.  i  v     flag  was  captured  by  Private  Peter 

Kappesser,  of   Company  I),  of  the  same 

regiment.     A  Confederate  camp  in  a  hollow  was  surprised  at  breakfast.     A  brief 
but  extremely  sharp  struggle  ensued.     The  rebel  color-sergeant,  with  his  color-guard, 


—  285  — 

was  attempting  to  retreat  under  cover  of  some  rocks.  Private  Kappesser  boldly 
rushed  upon  them  and  demanded  their  surrender.  The  rebel  sergeant  and  his  guard 
were  panic  stricken  and  handed  him  the  colors.  Private  Kappesser  quickly  tore  the 
flag  off  the  staff  and  thrust  the  bunting  under  his  coat.  He  then  hastened  to  the 
rescue  of  a  comrade,  who  was  wounded  and  writhing  in  pain,  and  taking  him  upon 
his  back, •ear-riiitl  comrade  and  flag  to  his  own  ranks.  During  the  intensely  cold 
night  the  daring  soldier  wore  the  Confederate  flag  as  a  scarf  around  his  neck,  and 
used  it  for  this  purpose  until  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  was  over,  when  he  gave 
it  to  the  commanding  officer  of  his  regiment. 


L1 


SIMEON  T.  JOSSELYN, 

lieutenant.  Thirteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 

Born  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  14.  1842. 


IEUTENANT  SIMEON  T.  JOSSELYN  performed  the 
extraordinary  feat  of  capturing,  single- 
handed,  a  rebel  battle  flag  at  Missionary  Ridge, 
November  25,  18(53,  and  the  whole  color-guard 
with  it.  He  gives  this  account  of  the  incident : 
"  We  had  formed  line  of  battle  at  the  foot  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  after  waiting  a  few  min 
utes  we  received  the  order  to  advance  at  double 
quick.  We  crossed  an  open  field  and  a  creek 
before  we  came  in  full  view  of  the  rebel  lines, 
near  the  top  of  the  ridge.  With  never  a  chance 
to  regain  our  breath,  we  were  pushed  on  under  a 

heavy  fire.  The  order  came  to  my  company  and  another,  to  advance  as  skirmishers. 
"We  had  approached  within  a  short  distance  of  the  enemy's  line  when  they 
broke.  I  caught  sight  of  the  rebel  colors  with  the  guard,  who  kept  well  together, 
and  I  determined  to  have  them  at  any  cost.  My  company  was  back  of  me  and  I 
knew  that,  although  they  were  somewhat  scattered,  the  men  would  follow  me.  I 
pushed  on  and  captured  a  rebel,  from  whom  I  took  a  Springfield  musket  and  car 
tridges,  before  ordering  him  to  the  rear  as  a  prisoner. 

"With  the  captured  musket,  I  opened  fire  on  the  color-guard,  and  brought  down 
the  color-bearer.  When  the  flag  came  down,  the  men  disappeared  in  the  tall  grass 
and  weeds.  I  reloaded  quickly,  and  rushed  to  the  spot,  where  I  found  nine  men.  I 
was  about  to  fire  upon  them  again,  when  they  waved  their  hats  and  shouted :  "  We 
surrender ' 

"I  seized  the  flag,  which  was  that  of  the  Eighteenth  Alabama  Infantry,  and  they 
handed  me  the  belt  and  socket.  Some  of  my  men  coming  up  at  this  moment,  I 


—  286  — 


placed  them  as  a  guard  over  the  prisoners.  I  then  pushed  forward  in  the  direction 
of  General  Bragg's  headquarters  near  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  carrying  the  flag 
with  me.  The  remnant  of  the  rebel  army  was  in  full  retreat,  and  our  day's  work 
was  done.  The  belt  and  socket  1  still  have  in  my  possession  as  a  relic." 


^M^^^^lttMl^KI^^^^AttfciJialudMMM'" 

vWRMV|VV|k      / 


"THEY   WAVED   THEIR    HATS   AND    SHOUTED:    'WE   SURRENDER.'" 


VICTORY  CROWNED  HIS  GALLANTRY 


THE  effects  of  the  battle  of  Chattanooga  on  the  25th  of  November,  1863,  were  keenly 
felt  from  Nashville  to  Knoxville  and  from  Chattanooga  to  Mobile  and  Savan 
nah;  it  was  a  struggle,  conducted  for  the  Federal  side  by  General  George  H.  Thomas, 
commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  handsomely  won  by  him  and  his 
brave  and  gallant  troops. 

In  this  battle  the  Thirtieth  Ohio  Infantry  was  attached  to  the  Second  Brigade  of 
the  Third  Division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

The  morning  of  the  25th  of  November  opened  clear  and  bright  with  General 
Thomas  at  his  headquarters  on  Orchard  Knob,  commanding  a  full  view  of  the 
entire  field. 

The  Third  Division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  had  for  two  days  been  in  camp  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  in  front  of  Fort  Phelps,  with  its  left  resting  on  the  Moon  Road  and 
its  right  near  Turchin's  Brigade.  About  eight  o'clock  the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  Lieu- 


—  287  — 


HENRY  VAN  N.  BOYNTON, 

Lieutenant-Colonel, 35th  Ohio  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Bvt.  Brig-Gen., 

U.S.V. 

Born  at  West  Stockbridge,  Mass., 
July  -22.  1835. 


tenant-Colonel  Henry  Van  N.  Boynton,  commander,  was 
deployed  along  the  front  and  advancing  about  a  mile, 
strongly  opposed.  The  enemy  had  drawn  in  its  pickets 
so  that  upon  the  approach  of  the  Ohio  men,  several  small 
observation  parties  retired  in  haste.  Shortly  after,  the 
regiment  rejoined  its  brigade  and  moved  with  the  divi 
sion  to  a  position  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  Bald  Hill, 
facing  and  1,200  yards  distant  from  Missionary  Ridge. 
Here  the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  was  placed  in  the  center  of 
the  brigade  on  the  first  line.  Up  to  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  this  force  was  engaged  in  skirmishing  with 
the  enemy  on  the  far  side  of  the  woods,  when  an  advance 
was  ordered,  and  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's 
artillery  on  the  ridge  and  from  musketry  from  the  lower 
works,  the  brigade  dashed  forward  at  double-quick  with 
out  firing  a  shot.  When  within  one  hundred  yards 

from  the  rifle  pits  the  Confederates  were  retreating  as  rapidly  as  they  could  up  the 
precipitous  ridge  behind  them. 

Still  the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  with  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  moved  on 
steadily  under  a  very  heavy  direct  and  enfilading  fire  until  they  were  partly  under 
cover  of  the  first  line  of  works.  Then  the  division  commander  ordered  a  charge  to 
the  crest  of  the  ridge,  and  with  cheers  and  great  energy  the  Third  Division  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps  began  a  bloody  ascent.  The  steep  surface,  the  enemy's  sharp 
shooters  in  front,  a  terrific  enfilading  artillery  fire  on  both  flanks  did  not  lessen  their 
eager  haste,  so  that,  at  last  it  became  practically  a  race  between  the  first  and  second 
lines  of  the  division.  After  numerous  hand-to-hand  conflicts  the  colors  of  the  Second 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  were  planted  on  the  summit  of  the 
ridge,  such  of  the  Confederates  as  could  do  so  fleeing  precipitately.  As  the  men 
of  the  Thirty-fifth  Ohio  sprang  over  the  works,  cannoneers,  caught  loading  their 
pieces,  were  driven  away,  or,  refusing  to  run,  were  bayoneted  before  they  could  fire 
their  pieces.  At  this  point  the  Thirty-fifth  captured  three  guns,  after  which  they 
joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  had  retreated  to  the  left,  for  nearly  half  a 
mile. 

It  was  during  this  fight  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Boynton  fell,  severely  wounded, 
and  because  of  his  day's  experience,  that  officer  now  wears  the  Congressional  Medal 
of  Honor,  "  For  leading  his  regiment  at  Missionary  Ridge,  Tenn.,  November  25,  1864, 
in  the  face  of  a  severe  fire  of  the  enemy,  where  he  was  severely  wounded." 

It  had  been  a  fight  before  the  strongest  portion  of  Bragg's  army  and  resulted  in 
a  capture  of  one  of  the  strongest  positions  in  the  zone  of  the  battle.  Furthermore, 
it  was  a  vindication  of  General  Thomas  and  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland;  and  the 
signal  for  the  immediate  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knoxville. 


—  288  — 


CAPTURED  BATTLE-FLAGS 


ROBERT  B.  BROWN, 

Private,  Co.  A,  15th  Ohio  Vet.  Vol.  Inf. 
Born  at  New  Concord,  Ohio,  Oct.  2d,  1844. 


'"Pwo  incidents  occurred  at  the  battle  of  Missionary 
Ridge,  November  24  and  25,  1863,  which  stand 
out  prominently  among  the  many  gallant  deeds  of 
the  Union  soldiers  engaged  in  that  battle.  In  both 
instances  Ohio  men  were  the  heroes,  and  in  both, 
too,  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  colors  was  the 
prize  of  courage  and  daring. 

Private  Robert  B.  Brown,  of  Company  A,  Fif 
teenth  Ohio  Infantry,  secured  the  standard  of  the 
Ninth  Mississippi  and  took  the  standard-bearer 
along  with  the  trophy  as  his  prisoner.  Corporal 
George  Green,  of  Company  H,  Eleventh  Ohio  Infan 
try,  was  one  of  the  first  to  scale  the  enemy's  works, 
and  after  a  fierce  hand-to-hand  struggle  with  the 
rebel  color-bearer,  likewise  carried  off  the  Confed 
erate  flag  of  another  rebel  regiment.  Both  incidents  are  highly  dramatic.  Private 
Brown's  regiment  was  part  of  the  Union  force,  which,  on  November  24,  was  ordered 
to  make  a  demonstration  on  Missionary  Ridge.  The  line  advanced  to  Orchard  Knob 
and  rested  there  until  two  o'clock  on  the  next  day,  when  orders  were  given  to  take 
the  rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge.  The  troops  made  the  advance,  and,  without 
meeting  with  serious  opposition,  continued  up  the  ridge.  Just  as  the  Fifteenth  Ohio 
reached  the  crest,  Private  Brown  espied  a  Confederate  color-bearer.  His  mind  was 
at  once  set  upon  the  possession  of  the  rebel  flag.  Not  heeding  the  severe  fire,  con 
centrated  upon  him,  he  ran  up  to  the  color-bearer. 

"  Surrender ! "  he  shouted  with  a  threatening  gesture,  which  so  impressed  the 
rebel,  that  he  hastened  to  comply.  Brown  took  the  flag  and  the  prisoner  to  his 
commander,  who  was  proud  of  the  private's  achievement. 
Private  Green's  regiment,  on  November  25,  was  or 
dered  out  on  the  Rossville  Road  to  support  a  section 
of  artillery  sent  to  shell  the  camp  of  the  enemy  at 
the  base  of  Missionary  Ridge.  Nothing  was  encountered 
there  and  the  regiment  subsequently  returned  and  re 
joined  the  brigade.  Later  it  moved  with  the  brigade 
and  took  a  position  in  front  of  Fort  Wood.  Having 
been  formed  in  double  column  at  half  distance,  the 
regiment  deployed,  and,  at  a  run,  moved  across  the 

open    ground     up     Missionary     Ridge     and    against    a  GEORGE  GREEN, 

severe    fire    of    musketry    and    artillery.      The    breast-     private,  co.  H.  nth  Ohio  infantry. 

Born  in  Elsham,  England,  1840. 


—  289  — 


works  of  the  enemy  on  the  top  of  the  ridge  had  to  be  taken  by  storm.  The  Eleventh 
Ohio  made  a  bold  dash  for  the  guns.  They  met  with  a  most  decided  resistance  and 
many  a  brave  fellow  lost  his  life  in  the  attempt  to  be  the  first  one  to  scale  the  rebel 
works.  Corporal  Green  f ought  with  undaunted  courage.  Though  he  su\v  a  number 
of  his  comrades  killed  at  his  side,  he  bravely  approached  the  works,  and— with  one 
daring  leap,  bounded  into  the  rebel  fortifications.  He  was  soon  joined  by  others  and 
then  a  fierce  struggle  ensued.  Green  grappled  with  the  bearer  of  a  Confederate 
battle-flag  and  wrenched  from  him  the  colors.  The  fight  ended  in  a  complete  vic 
tory  for  the  Ohioans. 


SOONER  FIGHT  THAN  BEAT  THE  DRUM 


T 


5  WAR  DEPARTMENT  found  Drummer 
John  S.  Kountz.  of  Company  G.  Thirty- 
seventh  Ohio  Infantry,  guilty  of  disobedience 
to  orders  in  throwing  down  his  drum  and 
joining  in  the  charge  at  Missionary  Ridge, 
but  for  his  gallantry  on  this  occasion  he  was 
awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor.  When  the 
order  was  given  to  advance  from  the  tem 
porary  works  from  which  the  enemy  had 
been  driven  that  morning.  Kountz.  who  was 
only  seventeen  years  of  age.  threw  aside  his 
drum  and  joined  in  the  attack,  urging  and 
encouraging  his  comrades.  Twice  the  bri 
gade  charged  upon  the  Confederates  in  their 
entrenched  position,  and  twice  the  shattered 
column  was  driven  hack.  On  the  second 
assault.  Kountz  was  shot  through  the  leg 
and  very  dangerously  wounded  close  to  the 
enemy's  lines. 

When  the  brigade  got  back  to  its  old  position.  Captain  Hamm.  of  Company  A, 
told  the  boys  of  Company  G,  that  Kountz  was  lying  in  the  front  severely  wounded, 
and  asked  :  "Who  will  go  and  get  him  out  ?  "  Private  William  Schmidt  shouted  :  "T 
will,"  and  made  for  the  front,  advancing  as  far  as  he  could  under  cover  of  the  hill. 
When  he  came  to  the  point  where  cover  was  no  longer  available,  he  made  a  dash  for 
the  spot  where  Kountz  was  lying,  the  enemy  pouring  a  heavy  fire  upon  him.  Kountz 
shouted:  "Save  yourself.  1  am  a  goner  anyhow."  but  Schmidt  picked  him  up  on 
his  back  and  in  spite  of  all  protests,  carried  him  back  to  the  Union  lines.  Kountz' 
leg  was  so  badly  shattered  that  it  had  to  be  amputated  the  same  night,  When  he 
was  picked  up,  he  was  nearer  the  rebel  works  than  any  other  man  of  his  regiment. 


JOHN  S.  KOUNTZ, 

Drummer.  Co.  <i  .  37th  Ohio  Inf. 

Born  in  Lucas  Co.,  Ohio,  March  25,  1846. 


—  290  — 


"NOW  YOU  HAVE  SURRENDERED!" 


T 


JAMES  C.  WALKER, 

Private  Co.  K,31*t  Ohio  Inf. 

Born  at  Harmony.  Clark  Co.,  Ohio. 

Nov. :«).  lS4:s. 


HE  conduct  of  soldiers  like  that  of  Private  James  C. 
Walker,  of  Company  K,  Thirty-first  Ohio  Infantry, 
contributed  a  large  share  to  the  final  success  of  the  Union 
cause.  It  was  at  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  that 
Private  Walker  distinguished  himself.  Though  wounded 
he  could  not  bear  to  see  the  colors  of  his  regiment 
drop  and  seized  them  just  as  the  color-bearer,  mortally 
wounded,  fell  to  the  ground.  Throughout  the  engagement 
he  carried  the  stars  and  stripes,  the  possession  of  which 
inspired  him  to  a  degree  of  courage  akin  to  heroism. 

Private  Walker  himself  tells  a  graphic  story  of  the 
thrilling  events  of  that  day,  as  far  as  he  was  concerned, 
as  follows : 

"  Tin-chin's  Brigade  was  drawn  up  in  two  lines  to  attack  the  Confederate  position ? 
but  as  the  second  line  overlapped  the  first,  our  regiment  was  taken  out  to  form  a 
third  line.  On  arriving  at  the  Confederate  breastworks  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  we 
found  them  filled  with  men  of  the  first  and  second  lines,  which  left  us  without 
protection  from  the  enemy's  musketry  fire.  It  was  less  dangerous  to  advance  than 
to  retreat,  and  Colonel  Lister  rode  over  the  breastworks,  shouting:  'Forward  Thirty- 
first.'  We  swarmed  over  and  the  whole  brigade  followed.  We  made  no  attempt 
to  keep  in  line ;  it  was  everyone  for  himself,  each  striving  to  be  first  to  gain  the  top 
of  the  ridge.  The  Thirty-first  started  up  the  ravine  to  the  left  of  the  spur  known  as 
De  Long's  Point,  but  we  found  that  this  would  lead  us  into  an  angle  of  the  rebel 
line,  so  we  turned  to  the  right  and  came  out  on  the  top  of  the  spur. 

"George  Wilson,  of  Company  G,  and  I  were  among  the  first  to  get  to  this  point. 
We  laid  down  at  the  foot  of  the  Confederate  breastworks,  and  Sam  Wright  of  Com 
pany  K,  came  up  and  asked  us :  '  What  in  hell  are  you  going  to  do  next  ? '  We 
told  him  to  wait  and  see.  As  the  other  boys  came  up,  they  dropped  alongside  of  us 
until  we  numbered  twenty  all  told.  I  then  called  out :  'Boys  are  you  ready  ? '  and 
they  replied :  'Yes,  go  ahead.'  We  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  works  and  looked 
down  upon-  the  Confederates,  formed  in  twro  lines,  one  kneeling  in  the  trench  with 
fixed  bayonets,  and  the  other  lying  down  behind  them.  With  a  yell  we  jumped 
down  into  the  trench  on  top  of  them,  and  a  hand-to-hand  fight  followed,  with  mus 
kets,  bayonets,  and  even  fists.  We  had  broken  the  Confederate  line,  and  as  our 
men  came  up  to  support  us,  we  faced  right  and  left,  and  kept  widening  the  gap. 

"One  of  the  Confederates  who  had  thrown  down  his  musket  and  held  up  his 
hands  in  token  of  surrender,  fired  at  us  after  we  had  passed  and  hit  one  of  our  boys  on 
the  knee.  I  turned  on  him  with  the  butt  of  my  gun,  but  before  I  could  strike,  Sam 
Wright  pushed  me  to  one  side,  and  said :  '  Let  me  fix  him.'  Placing  his  musket 


—  291  — 


against  the  man's  breast,  he  fired,  literally  tearing  him  to  pieces.     Looking  at  the 
mangled  body,  he  said :     'Now  damn  you,  you  have  surrendered.' 

"As  I  turned  to  push  on,  I  was  struck  in  the  right  breast  with  a  Minie  ball  which 
knocked  the  breath  out  of  me  and  stunned  me,  making  ten  holes  through  my 
blanket,  blouse  and  shirt.  Our  color-bearer,  Corporal  George  W.  Franklin,  of  Com 
pany  K,  had  been  struck  in  the  arm  by  a  piece  of  shell  as  he  came  over  the  works, 
and  was  on  the  point  of  falling  from  loss  of  blood  when  I  came  to  my  senses.  I 
jumped  up  and  caught  the  colors  just  in  time  to  save  them  from  going  down. 


DRIVING  OFF 
THE  REBEL 
GUNNERS. 


"A  rebel   battery 
a  short  distance  to  the 
left,  opened  a  terrible  fire 
of    grape  and  canister   upon  us. 
T  rushed  forward  to  the  first  gun  of  the 
battery,  got  in  between  the  piece  and  the  wheel,  and 

with  my  left  hand  pulled  the  fuse  out  of  the  gun,  just  as  the  cannoneer  jerked 
the  lanyard.  Sam  Wright  got  in  on  the  other  side,  rested  his  musket  on  the  wheel, 
and  shot  the  officer  in  command  of  the  battery.  As  the  officer  fell,  his  sword  flew 
out  of  his  hand  and  came  end  over  end  to  the  feet  of  Captain  A.  S.  Scott,  of  the 
Thirty-first. 

"We  drove  off  the  rebel  gunners,  slewed  the  guns  around  and  poured  their  con 
tents  into  their  late  owners.  After  capturing  the  battery,  we  swept  on  until  the 
Confederates,  being  re-enforced,  made  a  desperate  charge  and  drove  us  over  the 


-292  — 
^ 

breastworks.  The  ridge  at  this  point  was  so  steep  that  we  could  fall  back  no  fur 
ther,  and  we  were  compelled  to  hold  our  ground.  Here  we  fought  for  about  twenty 
minutes  with  the  breastworks  between  us,  and  the  only  thing  that  saved  us  was 
that  we  were  on  lower  ground  and  the  rebels  overshot  us. 

"Our  troops  attacked  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  line,  while  we  leaped 
over  the  breastwork  and  charged  them  from  the  front.  1  noticed  the  color-bearer 
of  the  Forty-first  Alabama,  about  twenty  paces  in  front  of  me,  endeavoring  to  rally 
his  regiment.  1  rushed  at  him  and  caught  hold  of  the  flag,  but  in  the  struggle  we 
fell  and  the  staff  was  broken.  The  rebel  surrendered  and  I  rolled  up  his  flag  and 
carried  it  under  my  left  arm  till  I  met  Sam  Wright  and  gave  it  to  him.  Our  own 
colors  I  continued  to  carry  throughout  the  fight  and  brought  them  out  with 
eighty-nine  bullet  holes  in  them  and  ten  in  the  staff." 


A  PRIVATE'S  INGENUITY 


'"THE  quick 
1  wit   and 
action    of 
Private 
Martin  E.  Scheibner, 
of  Company  (I,  Nine 
tieth  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
prevented  a  disaster  at  the 
battle  of  Mine  Run,  Novem- 
26  and  27,  1863.     The  fighting  in 
that  locality  consisted  of  a  series 
of  operations  between  the  forces  of  Gen 
eral  Meade  and   General  Lee  with  en 
gagements   at  Racoon  Ford,  Bartlett's 
Mills,  Robertson's  Tavern,  Kelley's  Ford 
and   New   Hope.     During  these  short, 
but  sharp  contests,  the  Federal   forces  consisted   of 
five  corps  of  infantry  and  artillery  and  two  divisions 
of  cavalry.     The  Ninetieth  Pennsylvania  was  part  of 
these  troops. 

The  incident,  which  furnished  Private  Scheibner 
an  opportunity  to  distinguish  himself,  when  Lee  took  a  strong  position  at  Mine 
Run,  shortly  after  being  defeated  by  General  Sedgwick's  Corps  at  Kelley's  Ford. 


MARTIN  E.  SCHEIBNER, 

Private.  Co.  G,  90th  Pennsylvania  Inf. 
Born  in  Russia. 


—  293  — 

The  Confederates  were  shelling  the  Union  forces  and  doing  considerable  damage, 
so  that  General  Meade  decided  upon  an  energetic  course  of  action.  Company  G 
of  the  Pennsylvania  regiment  was  ordered  to  charge  across  the  Run  and  up-hill  to 
the  fortifications  of  the  rebel  army. 

Simultaneously  with  the  order,  came  a  shell  from  the  enemy  directly  in  the 
midst  of  the  infantrymen.  The  unexploded  weapon  of  death  with  its  rapidly  burn 
ing  fuse  caused  consternation  amounting  almost  to  a  panic  within  the  Union  ranks. 
The  line  formation  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  where  the  shell  had  fallen,  was 
instantly  and  completely  shattered.  Some  of  the  men  threw  themselves  flat  upon 
the  ground,  with  eyes  shut;  some  of  them  running  to  the  nearest  shelter,  how 
ever  inadequate  the  protection  offered  might  be.  A  panic,  the  result  of  which 
might  have  been  disastrous  indeed,  was  imminent.  Private  Scheibner  glanced  at  the 
rapidly  burning  fuse.  He  noticed  the  men  running  in  all  directions.  One  thought 
rlashed  through  his  mind.  He  decided  to  take  his  chances.  Quickly  removing  the 
stopper  from  his  canteen,  he  poured  the  contents,  coffee,  on  the  fizzing,  burning 
fuse.  The  glimmering  fire  was  extiguished  and  all  danger  averted.  A  second  or  so 
later  and  the  explosion  would  have  been  inevitable.  The  fuse  had  just  about  reached 
the  shell.  Many  of  his  comrades  had  watched  him  with  abated  breath  and  cheered 
loudly  when  they  perceived  his  success.  The  men  now  came  back,  reformed  and 
made  the  charge  as  ordered.  It  was  the  deed  of  less  than  a  half  minute  that  accom 
plished  this  result. 

A  Medal  of  Honor  was  the  appropriate  reward  for  this  act  of  presence  of  mind 
and  courage. 


A  COLOSSAL  BLUFF 


PRIVATE  JOSEPH  S.  MANNING  of  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry, 
had  the  singular  good  fortune  to  capture  a  flag 
from  the  midst  of  two  hundred  rebels.  He 
gives  the  following  account  of  it : 

"My  regiment  was  writh  General  Burnside 
at  Knoxville,  East  Tenn.,  from  November 
17  till  December  5,  1863,  and  during  all  that 
time  we  were  continually  under  fire  from  the 
rifle-pits  of  the  enemy,  which  were  being  drawn 
closer  to  our  earthworks  day  by  day.  On  the 
night  of  November  28th  a  furious  assault  was 

made  upon  the  left  of  our  line,  and   our  pickets  were   driven  in,  contesting  the 
ground  step  by  step.     My  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  rear  of  our  principal-earth- 


JOSEPH  S.  MANNING, 

Private,  •29th  Massachusetts  Vol.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Ipswich,  Mass.,  April  13,  1845. 


—  294  — 


work,  Fort  Sanders,  where  we  remained  nearly  all  night.  Just  before  daylight  the 
enemy  made  a  demonstration  at  the  extreme  left  of  our  line  and  my  regiment  was 
hurried  off  to  strengthen  that  point. 

"  It  was  a  bit-         ?    terly  cold  night,  and  I  had  gone  to  the  rear  to  warm  myself 
at  a  fire  there,         ^f\     and  when  I  came  back  1  found  that  the  regiment  had  gone. 


Just  then 


"WITH  MY 
BAYONET  AT  HIS 
BREAST  I  DEMAND 
ED  HISSURRENDER" 


the  enemy  opened  a  fierce  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  on 
the  fort,  as  a  prelude  to  our  assault,  so  I  stayed  where  I  was. 
The  rebel  infantry  poured  in  upon  us,  scaling  the  parapet 
and  climbing  through  the  embrasures,  but  as  fast  as  they 
did  so,  we  shot  them  down,  and  they  rolled  back  into  the 
ditch  which  surrounded  the  fort.     One  color-bearer  planted 
his  flag  upon  the   parapet,    but  immediately    it  was 
snatched  away,  and  he  was  shot  dead.     Never  in  my 
life  did  I  experience  such  a  savage  feeling.     It 
seemed  to  me  that  I  could  not  load  and  fire 
fast  enough,  and  although  my  fingers  were 
numb  with  cold,  I  was  in  a  fever  of  excite 
ment. 

"This  assault  was  repulsed,  but   an 
other   was  immediately   made  by  fresh 
troops.     Three  of  the  enemy's  colors 
were  planted  upon  the  parapet, 
but   were   quickly    shot 
away,  and  a  hand-to- 
hand    fight    followed, 
the  officers  using  their 
swords,  the  men  their 
bayonets  and  the  butts 
of   their  guns.     Even 
the  artillery-men  took 
part,  using  their  axes 
and  the    rammers    of 
the  guns  as  weapons, 
the  enemy  being  final 
ly  obliged  to  withdraw, 
after  losing  heavily 

"The  retreating  rebels 
took  a  position  a  short 
distance  from  the  fort,  and  for  a 
time  kept  up  a  scattering  fire, 
aided  by  their  artillery.  General 
Ferrero,  who  commanded  the  fort, 


—  295  — 

called  out :  '  There  are  lots  of  them  in  the  ditch.  Go  out  and  get  them.'  A  detail 
from  our  regiment  was  sent  to  the  left,  and  one  from  the  Second  Michigan  to  the  right 
to  sweep  the  ditch.  The  first  detail  entered  the  ditch  from  the  rifle  pits  on  the  left 
and  passed  around  the  salient  of  the  fort.  I  wanted  to  go  with  them  but  was  quite 
a  distance  away  when  they  started,  and  as  I  saw  I  could  not  catch  up  by  following, 
I  adopted  another  plan. 

"Waiting  until  I  thought  they  had  entered  the  ditch,  I  jumped  upon  the  parapet, 
slid  down  the  outside  of  the  fort  and  landed  among  the  rebels.  I  was  the  only 
Yankee  in  sight.  Hearing  the  detail  from  my  regiment  cheering  to  the  left,  I  de 
manded  the  surrender  of  those  about  me,  and  they  threw  down  their  guns.  I 
pushed  towards  a  color-bearer  who  was  attempting  to  hide  his  colors  and  with  my 
bayonet  at  his  breast,  I  demanded  his  surrender.  He  handed  over  the  colors, 
which  were  those  of  the  Sixteenth  Georgia,  and  1  took  him  prisoner.  Our  detail 
arrived  just  then,  and  turning  my  prisoner  over  to  them,  he  was  marched  back 
along  with  some  200  others,  through  the  ditch  into  the  works.  We  also  recovered 
another  rebel  flag  from  under  the  dead  body  of  the  color-bearer. 

"A  wounded  rebel  in  the  ditch  asked  me  to  take  him  inside  |the  works  as  he 
was  in  danger  of  being  shot  where  he  lay.  I  made  him  climb  over  the  dead  and 
wounded  who  lay  in  great  numbers  at  this  angle  of  the  fort.  I  passed  up  the  colors 
to  him  and  told  him  to  stand  where  he  was  till  I  climbed  up.  Then  I  placed  the 
colors  and  my  gun  over  my  left  shoulder  and  supported  him  with  my  right  arm,  thus 
exposing  him  to  the  rebel  fire.  They  seemed  to  recognize  him,  for  not  a  shot  was 
fired  at  us,  as  we  walked  a  distance  of  over  a  hundred  yards  along  the  front  of  the 
rebel  line.  When  I  got  the  wounded  man  into  our  works,  I  turned  and  waved  the 
colors  to  the  rebels,  who  saluted  me  with  a  volley,  and  the  bullets  whistled  about 
my  ears.  I  did  not  stop  there  any  longer  than  was  necessary,  but  got  down  behind 
the  earthworks. 

"On  arriving  at  headquarters,  General  Burnside  received  the  colors,  took  me  by 
the  hand  and  complimented  me  in  the  most  flattering  language." 


Knoxville. — On  the  4th  of  September,  1863,  Burnside  witli  about  12,000  troops  entered  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  and  immediately  began  to  strengthen  the  defenses  around  the  city,  so  that  by  the  17th  of  November 
he  had  shut  himself  up.  He  held  the  city  and  the  surrounding  country,  though  the  nearest  Union  forces 
were  in  the  vicinity  of  Missionary  Ridge. 

Burnside  being  thus  isolated,  Bragg  sent  Longstreet  against  him  with  20,000  troops,  and  on  the  29th 
of  November  Longstreet  began  a  terrific  artillery  fire  upon  the  Union  works.  Burnside,  however,  held 
his  fire  until  four  Confederate  brigades  advanced  to  charge  upon  the  parapet,  when  lie  opened  up  with  his 
guns  with  such  deadly  effect  that  Longstreet  was  compelled  to  withdraw,  leaving  behind  more  than  1,000 
killed  and  wounded,  while  his  own  loss  was  less  than  twenty. 

Sherman's  army,  which  had  in  the  meantime  been  ordered  to  the  relief  of  Burnside,  had  forced  its 
marches  in  order  to  arrive  at  Knoxville  before  it  was  too  late,  but  was  met  by  an  officer  of  Burnside's  staff, 
who  announced  that  Longstreet  had  been  utterly  repulsed. 

When  Sherman  entered  the  city  he  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  that  the  garrison  was  not  starved 
and  demoralized  but  that  Burnside's  army  was  well  supplied  with  rations,  furnished  by  Union  sympa 
thizers  in  the  South. 

Burnside's  loss  during  the  Knoxville  campaign  was  about  600  ;  Longstreet's  was  more  than  1,000. 


-296  — 


BRUNER'S  BRAVE  RIDE 


0 


LOUIS  J.  BRUNER, 

Private,  Co.  IT,  5th  Iml.  Cav. 
Burn  in  Monroe  Co.,  Ind.,  Oct.  0,  I,s:j4. 


on  the  most  precarious  and  interesting  situations 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  furnished  by  the 
investment  of  Knoxville,  where  General  Burnside  and 
his  army  were  cooped  up  for  a  considerable  time,  very 
much  to  the  alarm  and  anxiety  of  President  Lincoln 
and  his  cabinet,  as  wrell  as  that  of  General  Grant.  On 
the  other  hand  Burnside  confirmed  his  previous  record 
as  an  able  soldier  by  maintaining  his  position  intact,  in 
the  face  of  a  bitter  siege,  conducted  by  General  Long- 
street. 

With  the  Chattanooga  situation  taken  well  in  hand 
General  Grant  began  the  campaign  for  the  relief  of 
General  Burnside,  and  soon  General  Longstreet  was 
forced  to  raise  the  siege  in  order  to  turn  his  attention  to 
the  Federal  cavalry,  who  were  harrassing  his  rear. 

This  brigade  consisted  of  the  Fifth  Indiana  and  Four 
teenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  the  Twenty-first  Ohio  Battery,  the  Sixty-fifth,  One  hundred 
iind  sixteenth  and  One  hundred  and  eighteenth  Indiana  Volunteers,  under  command 
of  Colonel  Graham.  At  Walker's  Ford  on  the  Clinch  River,  December  2,  1863,  the 
Sixth  Indiana  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Thomas  H.  Butler,  was  suddenly  attacked  at 
daylight,  many  of  the  cavalry  being  still  asleep.  The  Confederates  had,  during  the 
night,  captured  the  outer  picket  post  at  the  gap  entrance  to  the  mountain,  where 
the  Manordsville  Road  leads  toward  Walker's  Ford  and  they  had  done  this  without 
discovery.  Then,  just  at  dawn,  they  drove  in  the  reserve  pickets  and  so  reached  the 
Indiana  men,  who  occupied  the  elevated  ground  north  of  the  Clinch  River.  The 
Confederates  rested  their  right  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the  southwest,  close  to  an 
area  of  timber,  where  they  had  been  driven  by  the  Indiana  cavalry.  A  hot  struggle, 
lasting  five  hours,  followed,  Colonel  Butler  contesting  stubbornly  every  inch  of 
ground. 

The  Confederates  had  just  made  a  spirited  attack  on  the  right  wing  of  the 
cavalry,  driving  it  back,  when  Private  Louis  J.  Brunei1,  Company  H,  and  acting 
orderly  of  Colonel  Butler,  was  dispatched  with  orders  to  Major  Mell  H.  Soper  to 
occupy  some  timber  on  the  left,  extending  to  the  mountain. 

Major  Soper  at  once  began  executing  the  move,  when  the  Confederates  made  a 
spirited  attack  on  the  right  wing  of  the  cavalry  and  drove  it  back  for  some  distance 
though  they  failed  to  break  the  Union  lines.  Then  by  a  quick  move  they  extended 
their  lines  to  the  mountains,  cutting  off  the  major  and  his  batallion.  Curiously 
enough  neither  the  major  nor  the  rebel  commander  realized  the  importance  of  the 
situation;  Major  Soper  was  ignorant  of  the  danger  from  capture,  the  Confederates 


—  297  — 

did  not  know  that  they  had  the  Union  men  at  bay.  Colonel  Butler,  however,  fnlly 
appreciated  the  seriousness  of  the  situation,  and  at  once  consulted  with  the  officers 
of  his  staff.  "  Soper  might  extricate  himself  by  making  for  a  small  ravine  in  the 
mountain,"  he  suggested.  Just  then  Brunei-  rode  up  to  the  group  of  officers.  Salut 
ing  the  colonel,  he  placed  himself  at  the  latter's  disposal  for  any  service  which 
might  l)e  required  to  accomplish  the  rescue  of  Major  Soper.  Colonel  Butler  accepted 
the  offer  and  without  losing  time  Brunei*  rode  away,  toward  the  lines  of  enemy, 
hidden  from  their  view  by  high  banks  and  bushes.  Presently  he  reached  a  road  lead 
ing  to  the  Confederate  line  and  quite  close  thereto.  The  distance  from  the  position 


DASHING    THROUGH    THE    REBEL    LINES. 

they  occupied  to  the  timber  which  Bruner  desired  to  reach,  was  very  slight.  He 
plied  his  spurs,  and  lying  close  to  the  back  of  his  mount,  dashed  to  and  through  the 
Confederate  line  to  safely  reach  the  timber  two  or  three  minutes  later." 

So  unexpectedly  and  suddenly  had  Bruner  made  his  appearance  that  the  Confed 
erates  were  too  much  dazed  to  understand  the  situation  until  it  was  too  late.  They 
fired  very  few  shots  at  the  daring  rider,  who  got  through  their  lines  without  injury. 
Once  among  the  trees,  Bruner  made  his  way  to  Major  Soper,  told  him  of  his  precarious 
position  and  pointed  out  the  ravine  as  a  means  of  escape.  The  major  immediately 
dismounted  his  battalion  and  accompanied  by  Bruner,  reached  and  entered  the 
ravine  and  so  returned  safely  to  Colonel  Butler's  line. 


—  298  — 


A  SINGULAR  PREDICAMENT  SKILLFULLY  HANDLED 


FRANCIS  S.  HESSELTINE, 

Lieut.-Col.,  13th  Maine  Infantry. 
Born  at  Bangui1.  Maine,  Dec.  10, 18*! 


the  close  of  1863  and  the  opening  of  1864, 
Major-General   C.   C.  Washburn,   in    command 
of    the     coast    expedition     with     headquarters     at 
Decrow's  Point,  Texas,  ordered  Brigadier-General  T. 
E.  G.  Ransom  to  order  a  reconnoissance  of  the  Mata- 
gorda  Peninsula.     Accordingly,  General  Hansom  sent 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Frank  S.  Hesseltine,  command 
ing  the  Thirteenth  Maine  Infantry,  at  Fort  Esper- 
anza,  to  carry  out  the  mission. 

Colonel  Hesseltine  and  100  members  of  his 
regiment  embarked  on  the  gunboat  Granite  City  on 
the  evening  of  December  28,  1868,  and  during  that 
night  proceeded  along  the  shore  of  the  Matagorda 
Peninsula  to  a  point  seven  miles  distant  from  its 
head.  In  the  morning  a  landing  through  the  surf 
was  effected,  the  intention  being  to  simply  make  the 

reconnoissance  ordered.  A  strong  southerly  wind  rose  piling  up  so  strong  a  surf 
that  all  communication  with  the  gunboat  was  cut  off  and  as  far  as  immediate  sup 
port  was  concerned  the  little  band  was  put  upon  its  own  resources. 

Meanwhile  Lieutenant  Hamin,  who  had  been  sent  with  a  small  force  on  a  scout 
up  the  peninsula,  returned.  Thereupon  Colonel  Hesseltine  deployed  a  line  of  skirm 
ishers  nearly  across  the  neck  of  land  and  moved  his  force  down  under  convoy  of  the 
gunboat,  thus  driving  back  and  cutting  off  the  Confederate  pickets.  Because  of 
the  numerous  bayous,  the  force  had  made  but  seven  or  eight  miles'  advance  at  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  Colonel  Hesseltine  was  obliged  to  shorten  his  skirmish 
line.  Just  then,  too,  he  was  warned  by  the  steam  whistle  of  his  convoy,  of  danger 
in  the  rear.  The  colonel,  by  using  his  glasses,  discovered  the  van  of  a  body  of  cav 
alry  (they  were  two  regiments  under  command  of  the  Confederate  Colonel  A.  Buchel) 
moving  down  the  peninsula.  Under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  thirty-pound  Parrott  of 
the  Granite  City,  the  enemy  moved  in  until  within  half  an  hour  their  skirmishers 
were  close  up  to  the  Maine  soldiers.  When  they  were  within  range,  Colonel  Hessel 
tine  commanded  the  rear  line  to  face  about  and  gave  Buchel's  force  a  volley,  with 
good  effect.  Then  the  Confederates  attempted  a  rapid  flank  movement,  but  Colonel 
Hesseltine  quickly  assembled  his  force  by  countermarching,  formed  his  line  face  to 
the  foe  and  in  line  of  battle  extending  across  the  narrow  neck  of  land,  only  two 
hundred  yards  wide  at  this  point  because  of  the  setting  in  of  a  bayou. 

The  enemy  again  changed  direction,  and  attempted,  by  wading  the  bayou,  to 
gain  the  rear  of  the  Yankees.  At  this,  Hesseltine  ordered  a  backward  movement, 
quick  time,  and  riding  ahead  selected  a  capital  defensible  position,  where  he  halted 


—  299  — 

his  force.  Giving  the  order  promptly,  his  men,  as  if  by  magic,  and  while  Buchel 
was  forming  his  force  for  attack,  threw  up  a  barricade  of  driftwood,  logs  and 
branches,  projecting  and  forming  an  ugly  looking  redan,  its  pan  coupe  on  a  sand 
ridge,  its  gorge  out  in  the  surf.  Then  the  men  wheeled  in  on  the  beach  and  were 
ready.  The  Confederates,  already  formed,  advanced,  hesitated,  halted.  A  small 
party  rode  up  to  reconnoitre  and  moved  back  again;  then  they  moved  the  force 
obliquely  for  a  fierce  charge  on  the  left.  They  halted  and  while  they  were  deliber 
ating,  darkness  came  with  a  heavy  mist.  Finally  they  withdrew  while  the  Yankees 
rang  out  three  cheers  and  a  tiger. 


REPULSING    THE    CHARGE. 


Two  bonfires  at  the  right  and  left  of  Colonel  Hesseltine's  position,  told  the  gun 
boat  Scioto,  coming  in  from  a  reconnoissance  up  the  coast,  of  the  whereabouts  of 
the  Maine  men,  and  the  Granite  City  went  back  for  re-enforcements.  Expecting  an 
attack  in  the  morning,  Hesseltine  kept  his  men  at  work  on  the  barricade  all  night, 
but  beyond  a  few  shots  from  the  southern  pickets,  but  little  trouble  \vas  experienced. 
A  foggy  morning  prevented  any  serious  demonstrations,  hut  at  noon  the  Confederate 
gunboat  J.  G.  Carr  ran  down  inside  and  to  a  point  opposite  and  began  shelling  the 
hastily  constructed  fortification.  At  3  P.  M.,  being  without  food  or  water  and  con 
cluding  that  the  enemy  had  beaten  back  all  re-enforcements  sent  from  Decrow's 


—  sou  — 


Point,  Colonel  Hesseltine  moved  his  hundred  men  cautiously  and  began  making  his 
way  down  the  peninsular.  At  ten  o'clock  that  night  the  party  was  struck  by  the 
severest  norther  of  the  winter  and  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  bivouac  was 
made.  Resuming  the  march  in  the  morning  they  plodded  along  until  2  P.  M.,  when 
twenty  miles  from  the  fort  they  were  discovered  by  the  Sciota  and  with  great 
difficulty  were  taken  aboard.  Not  a  man  or  equipment  was  lost  during  the  entire 
experience. 


CAPTURED  GENERAL  VANCE 


EVERETT  W.  ANDERSON, 

Sergeant,  Co.  M,  15th  Penn.  ("av 

Born  in  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  July 

12, 1839. 


FTER  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  Fifteenth  Penn 
sylvania  Cavalry  was   sent  out  to   the   Sequatchie 
Valley  to  forage  for  the  relief  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land,  penned  up  at  Chattanooga. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1864,  while  campaigning 
along  the  French  Broad  River,  word  wras  received  that 
General  Robert  B.  Vance  had  captured  a  wagon  train 
of  Union  supplies  at  Sevierville,  besides  200  infantrymen 
and  numerous  Union  citizens,  and  that  he  was  retreat 
ing  towards  Ashville. 

Colonel  William  I.  Palmer,  commanding  the  Fifteenth 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  started  after  Vance,  whose  passage 
being  blocked  by  large  trees  thrown  across  the  road  by 

Northern  sympathizers,  was  soon  overtaken.  Colonel  Palmer  detailed  a  party  of 
twenty  men  to  charge  through  the  enemy's  rear,  which  wras  done  successfully,  and 
then  the  general  charge  followed,  resulting  in  a  total  surprise  of  the  enemy  and  the 
recapture  of  all  the  property.  A  small  squad  commanded  by  Sergeant  Everett  W. 
Anderson,  of  Company  M,  was  looking  after  the  wounded,  and  thereby  became 
scattered.  Thus  it  happened  that  Sergeant  Anderson,  while  dismounted  and  caring 
for  the  wounded,  had  his  attention  called  by  a  comrade,  to  the  approach  of  five 
Confederates.  Quickly  mounting  his  horse,  Anderson  wrheeled  about  and  faced  Gen 
eral  Vance,  two  aides  and  two  orderlies.  Covering  the  General  with  his  revolver, 
Anderson  demanded  their  surrender.  Seeing  that  his  captor  was  fingering  the  trig 
ger  of  his  gun  suggestively,  General  Vance  threw  his  revolver  to  the  ground,  at  the 
same  time  objecting  to  surrendering  to  an  enlisted  man.  He  said  that  he  would 
surrender  only  to  a  commissioned  officer.  Anderson  thought  differently,  however, 
and  completed  the  capture  of  the  five  men  before  his  comrades  had  reached  the 
prisoners  and  their  keeper. 

News  of  a  capture  brought  Colonel  Palmer  to  the  scene,  and  saluting,  he  extended 
his  hand  with :  "I  am  happy  to  meet  you,  General  Vance."  The  reply  of  the 
prisoner  was:  "Much  more  so  than  I  am,  under  the  circumstances." 


—  301  — 


A  REAR  GUARD'S  HEROIC  WORK 


THEODORE  S.  PECK, 

First  Lieutenant.  CD.  II.  !>th  Vermont 

I  n  fa  n  t  ry . 

Highest  rank  attained:    Bvt.  Maj-Gen. 
Burn  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  March  ->2,  1843. 


N  February  2, 1864,  at  Newport  Barracks,  North 
Carolina,  the  Union  troops,  comprising  some 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  one  piece  of 
artillery,  were  attacked  by  the  Confederates  under 
General  Martin,  who  had  about  two  thousand 
infantry,  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  four 
hundred  cavalry,  and  who  had  outflanked  the 
Federals  from  the  commencement  of  the  engage 
ment.  The  left  of  the  Union  line  lay  near  the 
river,  wrhile  the  right  was  in  the  woods,  and  com 
manded  by  First  Lieutenant  Theodore  S.  Peck, 
Company  H,  Ninth  Vermont  Infantry. 

The  line  was  contin 
ually  pressed  back  by 
the  enemy,  and  made 
eleven  different  stands 
before  reaching  the 
Newport  River,  over 
which  there  were  two 
bridges,  one  a  railroad 
bridge,  and  the  other 


called  the  county  bridge, 
located  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  above  the  former. 

The  location  of  tbe 
county  bridge  was  at  a  nar 
row  point  of  the  Newport 
River;  which  was  very  deep 
just  there.  The  bridge  \vas 
about  forty  feet  long  and 
with  one  approach  down  a 
hill  not  very  steep,  but  with 

bluffs  upon  either  side  and  woods  down  the  bank. 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  was  a  marsh  full  of 
rushes,  dead  and  dried,  and  with  a  level  road  leading 
through  it  from  the  bridge  to  the  railway  crossing. 

The  Confederates  pressed  so  closely  that  there  was 
barely  time  to  fire  the  railroad  bridge  with  turpentine 
and  tar.  Lieutenant  Peck  with  his  men  was  ordered 

to  fire  the  county  bridge,  and  was  told  that  he  would  find  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,   near  the  bridge   head,   two   companies   of   cavalry,   with   plenty   of 


JOSIAH  C.  LIVINGSTONE, 

First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant, 

'.ith  Vermont  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained:    Captain. 
Born  at  Walden,  Vt.,  Feb.  3, 1837. 


ERASTUS  W.  JEWETT, 

First  Lieutenant.  Co.  A.Hth  Vermont  Inf. 
Born  at  St.  Albans.Vt..  April  1.  is:'.!'. 


—  302  — 

turpentine  and  tar  for  his  use  as  soon  as  he  had  crossed,  but  the  bridge  must  be 
burned  at  all  hazards,  and  the  enemy  prevented  from  crossing,  for  it  was  well  known 
throughout  the  entire  command  that  its  salvation  depended  upon  the  burning  of 
both  these  bridges.  Should  either  one  be  left  undestroyed  and  the  enemy  permitted 
to  cross,  the  chances  were  that  what  was  left  of  the  Union  forces  would  be  captured. 

Lieutenant  Peck  had  made  a  desperate  light  all  the  afternoon,  and  had  been  the 
farthest  out  toward  the  enemy  the  entire  time,  holding  them  in  check  until  they 
had  broken  through  the  line  on  his  left.  At  this  time  the  Union  troops  had  mostly 
crossed  the  railroad  and  county  bridges,  and  were  rapidly  falling  back  down  the 
county  road  toward^Beaufort,  while  Lieutenant  Peck's  rear  guard  was  hotly  engaged 
with  the  Confederates,  who  were  close  at  his  heels. 

He  had  sent  a  non-commissioned  officer  to  the  bridge  to  see  if  everything  was  in 
readiness  to  fire  the  same  after  he  had  crossed  it.  The  sergeant  had  just  reported 
that  there  was  no  tar,  no  turpentine,  and  no  cavalry;  in  fact  there  was  nothing — all 
had  fled.  Lieutenant  Peck,  leaving  one-half  of  his  men  with  their  officers,  fighting 
the  enemy,  ran  with  the  other  half  down  the  hill  to  the  bridge  and  determined  to 
destroy  the  same,  if  possible.  Finding  that  some  of  the  planks  were  not  spiked 
down,  he  had  these  torn  up,  and,  being  fortunate  in  finding  plenty  of  dry  grass  in 
the  vicinity,  which  his  men  pulled  from  the  ground,  he  had  the  same  placed  in  readi 
ness  for  burning  the  bridge,  then  ordered  his  men,  who  were  fighting,  to  stop  firing 
and  rush  across.  This  order  was  instantly  obeyed,  although  some  were  killed  and 
wounded  in  leaving  the  enemy,  who  came  forward  on  the  run,  increasing  their 
musketry  fire. 

As  soon  as  the  men  from  the  hill  had  crossed  the  bridge,  they  commenced  firing 
upon  the  enemy,  while  the  others  of  the  party  ignited  the  dead  grass.  The  Confed 
erates  brought  up  a  battery  and  poured  in  grape  and  canister. 

In  the  rush,  Sergeant  Charles  F.  Branch  was  wounded  and  left  behind,  a  fact 
which,  instantly  it  became  known  to  Peck,  caused  him  to  rush  back  across  the.  now 
burning  bridge,  to  the  sergeant,  and  half  carrying  him  in  his  arms,  succeeded,  in 
spite  of  a  hot  shower  of  bullets  and  shell  and  in  momentary  danger  of  death  from 
the  flaming  bridge,  in  carrying  him  safely  across  to  the  main  body  of  his  forces. 

Meanwhile  the  little  band  fought  the  enemy  across  the  river  until  both  ends  of 
the  bridge  fell,  a  mass  of  burning  embers,  when  the  retreat  was  taken  up.  As  the 


Newport  Barracks — On  February  2, 1864,  a  large  force  of  Confederates,  under  General  Martin,  made 
an  attack  upon  the  Union  lines  at  (wales'  Creek,  N.  C.  Though  vastly  outnumbered,  the  Federals  repulsed 
the  rebels  twice,  but  were  finally  compelled  to  fall  back.  The  Confederates  then  advanced  upon  Newport 
Barracks,  throwing  their  right  flank  across  the  railroad  to  prevent  a  retreat.  After  some  severe  fighting, 
the  small  Union  forces  retired  across  the  railroad  and  county  bridges  toward  Newport  Village.  Tin- 
bridges  were  destroyed  by  the  retreating  Federals.  From  Newport,  a  further  retreat  was  made  to  More- 
head  City,  where  the  further  advance  of  the  Confederates  was  checked.  The  losses  during  the  several  en 
gagements  were  small,  though  those  of  the  Federals  were  somewhat  heavier  than  the  enemy's,  because  the 
Union  men  were  mostly  raw  recruits. 


THE  RESCUE  OF  SERGEANT  CHARLES  F.  BRANCH  BY  LIEUTENANT  F.  S.  PECK. 


—  304  — 

Confederates  were  obliged  to  build  a  new  bridge  before  crossing  the  river,  the  Union 
forces  gained  an  advantage  of  three  hours  and  so  made  good  their  escape. 

At  the  time  Lieutenant  Peck  was  holding  and  burning  the  county  bridge,  at  New 
port  Barracks,  Lieutenant  Erastus  W.  Jewett  was  given  command  of  a  picket  squad 
of  about  seventy  men,  with  orders  to  hold  and  burn  the  railroad  bridge,  which,  as 
stated  before,  was  some  three-quarters  of  a  mile  below  the  county  bridge.  He  also 
was  to  prevent  the  enemy,  who  had  a  large  force  on  the  other  side,  from  crossing 
and  capturing  Newport  Barracks  and  its  defenders.  Relative  to  this  deed  Lieu 
tenant  Jewett  says:  "We  held  the  bridge  and  twice  drove  the  enemy  back  to  the 
cover  of  the  woods.  They  then  shelled  us  with  a  battery  at  about  600  yards,  for 
fifteen  minutes,  but  as  soon  as  they  stopped,  we  were  at  them  again  with  our 
muskets,  and  succeeded  in  keeping  them  back  from  the  bridge  till  it  was  burned,  so 
that  they  could  not  cross  the  river.  No  doubt  it  was  some  of  the  hardest  rear 
guard  work  ever  performed,  and  my  men  well  deserved  all  the  praise  that  was  be 
stowed  upon  them  later." 

At  the  outset  of  the  enterprise  assigned  to  Lieutenants  Peck  and  Jewett,  Lieu 
tenant  Josiah  C.  Livingstone  volunteered  his  services,  which  offer  was  accepted. 
His  was  no  mean  share  in  the  enterprise.  He  personally  supervised  the  burning  of 
the  bridge  and  was  among  the  last  to  fall  back.  In  retiring  he  passed  a  wounded 
comrade  who  was  unable  to  move.  Lieutenant  Livingstone  came  to  his  assistance 
and  helped  him  to  reach  the  Union  lines  in  safety.  It  was  for  such  loyal  duty 
that  Lieutenant  Livingstone's  superior  officers  recommended  him  for  the  Medal  of 
Honor. 


—  307  — 


WITH  ELEVEN  MEN  HELD  AN  ARMY  AT  BAY 


ABRAM  P.  HARING, 

First  Lieutenant,  Co.  G.  132d  New  York  Inf. 
Born  in  New  York  in  1838. 


February  1,  1864,  at  2:30  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  General  Pickett,  of  the  Army          )~ 
of  Virginia,  attacked  the  outposts  of  the  Union 
forces  at  a  point  where    the    Neuse    Road  crosses 
Batchelder's    Creek,  about    eight    miles    from   New 
Berne,  North  Carolina.     At  that  point  the  Federal 
force  consisted  of  only  eleven  men  under  Lieutenant 
Abram  P.  Haring,  of  Company  G,  One  hundred  and 
thirty-second  New  York  Infantry.     The  evident  pur 
pose  of  the  rebels  was  the  capture  of  New  Berne, 
which  was   stocked  with  ammunition,  clothing 
and  general  stores  in  large  quantities.     General 
Pickett  led  his  force  divided  into  three  columns 
and  chose  a  most  favorable  time  for  his  attack, 
for  a  fog  and  a  light  drizzling  rain  covered  their 
advance,   besides    cutting  off    all   Union  signal 
communication.     The  strength  of  the  Confederates  was  estimated  as  high  as  11,000. 

"The  location  of  our  small  reserve,"  Lieutenant  Haring  narrates,  "was  in  a 
naturally  strong  position.  The  creek  was  fifty  feet  wide  in  front,  with  breastworks 
on  either  side  about  fifty  feet  long.  During  the  preceding  night  we  had  taken  up 
the  bridge,  and  with  the  timbers  and  planks  we  constructed  a  small  but  strong 
breastwork,  behind  which  we  stationed  ourselves. 

"About  3:30  o'clock  in  the  morning  during  a  heavy  fog,  the  Confederates  at 
tacked  us  in  force,  but  were  unable  to  dislodge  us.  I  immediately  dispatched  a 
messenger  to  headquarters  informing  the  commanding  officer  of  the  situation.  In 
the  meantime  the  enemy,  feeling  conscious  of  their  strength,  made  a  second  at 
tack,  which  like  the  first  proved  futile.  We  were  keeping  up  a  steady  fire  during 
this  attack,  and  now  our  ammunition  was  pretty  well  exhausted,  but  the  little  we 
had  left  we  used  to  good  advantage." 

Thus  did  Lieutenant  Haring  and  the  eleven  men  of  his  command  hold  the  pow 
erful  army  of  the  rebel  general  at  bay  for  several  hours.  All  attempts  to  dislodge 
the  Spartan  band  from  the  bridge  and  free  the  way  for  further  advance,  failed. 
Then  batteries  of  artillery  were  brought  up,  but  still  Lieutenant  Haring  and  his  men 
refused  to  yield.  In  the  meantime  the  defenders  of  the  bridge  were  re-enforced  by 
150  men  from  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-second  New  York,  and  the  rebels  seeing 
that  further  attempts  to  dislodge  them  were  useless  changed  their  plan  of  attack, 
constructed  a  bridge  across  the  creek  at  a  point  some  distance  below,  and  there  at 
tacked  Lieutenant  Haring's  little  force  from  the  rear,  thus  driving  them  out  of  their 
stronghold. 


—  308  — 

This  is  the  praise  which  Captain  Charles  G.  Smith,  Lieutenant  Haring's  superior 
officer,  in  his  official  report,  bestows  upon  the  hero : 

"I  feel  it  my  duty  to  mention  several  instances  of  coolness  and  heroism,  partic 
ularly  that  of  Lieutenant  Haring's  brave  defense  of  the  Neuse  bridge,  which  is 
worthy  of  especial  commendation." 

Still  more  flattering  is  the  following  official  reference  to  the  incident  by  Colonel 
Claassen : 

"First  Lieutenant  Abram  P.  Haring  commanded  the  reserve  at  the  attack  at  the 
Neuse  bridge  and  with  eleven  men  heroically  held  that  all-important  point  for 
hours,  against  thousands  of  the  enemy." 


CAPTURES  HIS  CAPTORS  AND  ESCAPES 


D 


,URING  the  last  three  months  of  1863  and  the  first 
three  months  of  1864,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
had  no  great  battles,  the  cavalry  being  chiefly  engaged 
in  raiding  under  Generals  Custer,  Smith,  Gregg,  Merritt 
and  Kilpatrick,  while  the  centers  of  general  interest  were 
Chattanooga  and  other  points  on  the  way  to  Atlanta.     The 
situation  along  the  Potomac  had  been  extremely  unsatis 
factory.  President  Lincoln  had  just  issued  a  call  for  200,000 
additional   men,  which,  with  the   promotion  of  General 
Grant  to  lieutenant-General  in  command  of  the  Federal 
Armies,  entirely  restored  confidence  in  the  north.     Mean 
while  the  several  brigades  of  cavalry  in  the  east  had  been 
riding  through  the  entire  territory  from  Harper's  Ferry  to 
the  James  River. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1864,  Corporal  Andrew  Traynor, 
of  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry,  was  detailed  with  one  pri 
vate  on  scout  duty  in  the  vicinity  of  Mason's  Hill,  Virginia.     He  says : 

"  The  Confederates  were  very  numerous  in  the  neighborhood,  and  in  fact  that 
whole  section  of  the  country  was  filled  with  men  from  both  sides,  looking  for  each 
other.  My  companion  arid  1  were  making  our  way  cautiously  through  a  bit  of  level 
country  covered  with  pine,  in  an  effort  to  locate  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy. 
We  had  just  wormed  our  way  into  a  dense  thicket  and  out  again,  when  we  were  sur 
prised  and  captured  by  four  heavily  armed  guerrillas.  We  were  taken  a  short  dis 
tance  to  another  spot  in  the  woods,  where  there  was  a  civilian  who,  with  his  team 
and  wagon,  had  been  captured.  Leaving  two  of  their  companions  to  guard  the 
captives,  the  other  two  guerrillas  went  back  to  the  woods  to  return  again  very 


ANDREW  TRAYNOR, 

Corporal,  First  Michigan  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Newark,  X.  J.,  Feb.  9, 1843. 


—  309  — 


shortly  with  three  more  prisoners,  stragglers  from  the  Union  lines.  Again  leaving 
the  party  under  guard  of  two  companions,  the  other  two  returned  to  the  road  for 
further  prizes. 

"  Here  it  was  that  I  communicated  my  intention  to  escape,  telling  my  companions 
to  watch  me  closely  and  keep  by  my  side.  Selecting  an  opportune  moment,  I  sprang 
at  the  two  guards,  and,  before  they  could  fire  their  guns  or  otherwise  give  a  signal,  I 

was  engaged  in  a  sharp 
struggle  with  both.  They 
were  able  bodied  and  well 
armed  men,  but  my  attack 
had  been  so  sudden  and 
well  directed  that  almost 
in  an  instant  I  had  both 
of  their  guns  and  had 
handed  one  to  the  civilian, 
who  had  kept  right  at  my 
elbow.  Just  then  the 
other  two  guerrillas  re 
turned  hastily  and  before 
they  could  realize  the 
situation  the  civilian  and 
I  both  fired,  each  one 
dropping  a  man.  At  this 
moment  the  two  disarmed 
guerrillas  made  their  es 
cape  in  one  direction, 
while  my  five  companions 
and  myself  made  our 
escape  in  an  opposite 
direction." 

Upon  getting  clear  of 
the  woods,  Traynor  and 
his  companion  separated, 
while  the  other  soldiers 
started  toward  the  Union 
lines.  Traynor  and  his 
companion  resumed  their 
scout,  but  had  gone  only 


"I    SPRANG    AT    THE   TWO    GUARDS." 


a  short  distance  when  they 

were  sighted  by  the  escaped  guerrillas  and  a  squad  of  their  companions  and  were 
pursued  for  more  than  two  miles.  At  last,  however,  they  made  good  their  second 
escape  by  reaching  the  Union  lines  in  safety. 


—  310- 


CAPTURE  OF  A  BUSHWHACKER  OUTPOST 


BENJAMIN  THAKRAH, 

Private,  Co.  H,  115th  New  York  Infantry. 
Born  in  Scotland  in  184.5. 


JUST  after  the  battle  of  Olustee,  Fla.,  between 
y  the  Federal  forces  commanded  by  General 
Seymore,  and  the  Confederates  under  Generals 
Finnegan  and  Gardner — which  was  engaged  in 
by  5,000  Union  and  as  many  more  Southern  sol 
diers — the  town  of  Palatka  was  captured  and  was 
placed  under  provost  guard,  Company  H,  One 
hundred  and  fifteenth  New  York  Infantry,  with 
.  Captain  S.  P.  Smith  as  provost  marshal.  All 
through  the  last  week  in  February  and  the  month 
of  April,  1864,  the  town  and  its  vicinity  were 
continually  harassed  by  bushwhackers,  who  raided 
plantations  and  dwellings,  captured  outposts,  and 
stole  stock  and  other  property. 

Just  before  sunrise,  April  1,  1864,  Company  H 
was  ordered  out  for  roll  call,  after  which  the 

captain  asked  for  twenty-five  volunteers  for  an  expedition  up  the  river,  the  object 
being  the  capture  of  a  Confederate  picket  known  to  be  stationed  about  thirty-two 
miles  away.  Twenty-five  men  stepped  forward  promptly,  after  which  they  were 
ordered  to  get  breakfast  and  put  one  day's  rations  into  their  haversacks.  This  was 
done  and  as  the  sun  came  up  over  the  horizon  the  volunteers  marched  to  the  land 
ing  and  went  aboard  a  small  tug  boat  in  waiting.  Among  their  number  was  Private 
Benjamin  Thakrah,  of  Company  H,  who  relates  what  followed : 

"The  picket  guard  we  were  after  were  well  armed  and  mounted;  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  swamp-ridden  country  and  its  people  and  their  habits;  and 
were  regularly  relieved  by  details  from  the  large  force  of  cavalry  which  was  in  the 
neighborhood.  Indeed,  the  utmost  vigilance  and  quiet  were  required  during  the  boat 
ride  in  order  that  the  advance  might  not  be  discovered  and  reported  in  time  to  put 
the  picket  on  guard.  And  so,  with  our  soldiers  lying  under  cover  in  the  engine 
room,  in  the  tiny  cabin  and  in  the  wheel-house,  the  tug  boat  steamed  along  to 
within  three  miles  of  our  destination,  when  we  were  pulled  in  small  boats  to  a  point 
near  where  the  Confederate  picket  was  .stationed. 

"On  reaching  shore,  our  squad,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  were  required  to  proceed 
alternately  through  swamps  with  water  to  our  waists  and  over  little  knolls  which 
were  fairly  baking  under  the  intense  heat  of  the  tropical  sun,  until  we  reached  a 
house  which  stood  half  concealed  by  a  hedge  of  small  bushes  and  a  board  fence. 
Keeping  out  of  sight  as  well  as  possible,  we  extended  our  line  until  it  surrounded 
three  sides  of  the  place,  feeling  sure  that  the  Southerners  would  not  attempt  to 
escape  by  way  of  the  river  front,  because  of  alligators. 


•' 


WE  PROCEEDED  THROUGH  SWAMPS ." 


—  312  — 

"Working  their  way  through  the  underbrush,  the  twenty-five  Union  men  at  last 
reached  the  fence,  and  I  straightened  up  to  look  over,  to  find  myself  in  front  of  and 
looking  into  the  gun-barrel  of  a  bushwhacker  picket.  With  a  quick  movement  I 
knocked  aside  the  threatening  weapon,  my  comrades  arose  around  the  entire  enclos 
ure  and  the  Confederate  who  had  confronted  me  was  on  the  run  for  the  house. 

"Then  our  twenty-five  men,  with  a  yell,  dashed  over  the  fence,  closed  in  about 
the  house  and  demanded  a  surrender  as  the  thoroughly  astonished  Confederates 
came  out  to  capitulate.  One  of  the  bushwhackers  had  an  unfinished  letter  in  his 
hand,  the  last  words  written  being :  '  Everything  is  quiet  along  our  lines.' 

"  The  entire  picket  with  its  arms,  horses  and  supplies  was  captured  without  firing 
a  shot,  and  while  doing  this,  a  portion  of  our  little  party  mounted  some  of  the 
captured  horses  and  rode  out  two  miles,  making  prisoners  of  a  sergeant  and  one 
man  on  vidette  duty.  By  prompt  use  of  the  small  boats  all  prisoners  were  placed 
under  guard  aboard  the  tug  boat,  while  the  horses  were  made  to  swim  across  the 
swamp  and  to  the  other  side  of  the  river.  In  doing  this,  two  men  row^ed  in  each 
boat,  two  other  men  held  the  horses  by  the  head  as  they  were  swimming,  and  a  fifth 
man  stood  in  the  stern  with  plenty  of  loaded  guns  to  keep  the  alligators  from 
attacking  them. 

"After  reaching  the  other  side  we  made  our  way  for  a  mile  and  a  half  through 
the  swamp,  where,  as  we  were  afterwards  told,  no  man  had  ever  trodden  before. 

"At  every  house  on  our  return  we  stopped  in  search  for  bushwhackers.  Our 
boys  on  the  horses  captured  a  mail  carrier  with  what  proved  to  be  valuable  letters, 
and  we  reached  Palatka  about  sunset. 

"  While  we  were  swimming  the  horses  across  the  river,  all  who  could  be  spared 
from  that  work  were  put  on  guard,  and  when  the  animals  were  over  each  told  the 
other  to  'come  in.'  One  of  the  boys,  unfortunately,  did  not  hear  the  summons,  and 
we  left  him  on  guard,  not  knowing  until  roll  call  that  he  was  missing.  After  three 
days  and  nights  he  finally  got  into  camp,  having  subsisted  on  wild  oranges  and 
berries,  during  his  wearisome  march,  and  was  very  much  weakened  by  his  exertions. 
He  said  we  had  not  been  away  two  hours  before  the  Confederate  cavalry  were  as 
thick  in  that  vicinity  as  hairs  on  a  dog." 


—  313  — 


ONE  OF  "SMITH'S  GUERRILLAS" 


JOHN  H.  COOK, 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  119th  Illinois  Infantry. 
Born  at  London,  England,  1840. 


ness 


' '  T  ASKED  Sherman  for  10,000  of  his  best  men  and  he 
'     has  sent  me  10,000  damned  guerrillas." 
This  severe  criticism  was  expressed  by  General  N.  P. 
Banks,  at  a  review  of  the  troops  of   General   Smith's 
Division,   Sixteenth    Army    Corps,    at    Alexandria,    in 
March,  1864. 

It  was  brought  on  by  the  apparent  lack  of  discipline, 
military  drill,  straggling  manner  and  unsoldierly  con 
duct  of  the  men  of  this  division,  and  directed  especially 
to  the  One  hundred  and  nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  the 
colonel  of  which  did  not  consider  "soldierly  show  busi- 

a  necessary  qualification  of  a  brave  army.  However,  the  general's  opinion 
clung  to  the  division,  and  ever  afterward  to  the  end  of  the  war  the  One  hun 
dred  and  nineteenth  Illinois  was  designated  as  "Smith's  Guerrillas."  If  this 
sabre  duel  was  intended  as  an  expression  of  contempt,  the  regiment  soon  found  an 
opportunity  to  prove  that  it  had  been  misjudged,  and  that  its  men  were  as  valiant 
as  any  in  the  Union  Army.  This  opportunity  presented  itself  at  the  fighting  at 
Pleasant  Hill,  La.  After  that  "Smith's  Guerrillas"  in  the  Union  ranks  became  a 
title  of  pride. 

The  Federal  troops  had  captured  Fort  DeRussy,  March  14,  1864,  and  occupied  the 
surrounding  territory.  Nevertheless  the  situation  was  precarious  because  the 
low  water,  rapid  current,  frequent  eddies  and  sways  of  the  Red  River  made  the 
handling  of  supplies  a  difficult  and  hazardous  task. 

On  the  morning  of  April  9,  1864 — after  fighting  all  the  previous  day  near  Sabine 
Cross-Roads  the  Confederates  found  themselves  confronted  at  Pleasant  Hill  with 
the  re-enforcement  of  Smith's  Division,  in  which  was  the  One  hundred  and  nineteenth 
Illinois  posted  in  the  woods  on  the  extreme  left.  John  H.  Cook,  sergeant  of  Com 
pany  A  of  that  regiment,  was  on  that  day  detailed  as  clerk  at  headquarters,  and 
in  the  following  narrates  what  occurred : 

"  The  thought  of  being  a  noncombatant  was  distasteful,  and  so,  arming  myself  with 
a  Sharps  rifle,  I  took  my  place  as  sergeant  in  the  rear  of  my  company.  I  was 
without  canteen,  haversack  or  blanket,  having  only  a  good  big  plug  of  tobacco,  my 
rifle  and  forty  rounds. 

"  The  position  assigned  my  regiment  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  my 
company  being  posted  in  advance  as  skirmishers  in  the  woods.  We  lay  in  this 
position  from  early  in  the  morning  until  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  wit 
nessing  from  our  commanding  position  the  battle  on  the  right  and  center.  We 
were  ordered  to  hold  our  position  at  all  hazards,  as  a  flank  movement  of  the  enemy 
was  expected  at  any  moment,  which  we  must  stubbornly  resist  before  falling  back. 


—  314  — 


''Our  army  had  a  disadvantage  as  to  ground  ;  the  position  could  be  easily  turned, 
we  could  not  occupy  it  long  for  want  of  water.  About  five  o'clock  the  Con 
federates,  having  been  heavily  re-enforced,  made  a  furious  assault  on  us,  hammered 
in  our  center,  doubled  up  our  right,  and  fell  vigorously  on  our  left,  which  was  the 
weakest  part  of  General  Emory's  position.  There  was  nothing  left  to  stop  the 
cyclone  now  but  '  Smith's  Guerrillas,'  and  it  seemed  that  we  in  the  woods  were  to 
be  flanked  and  the  w7hole  army  bagged.  A  sickening  feeling  came  over  me  as  I 
took  in  the  situation. 

"  It  was  not  long  after  we  began  to  move  farther  into  the  galling  fire  that  we  could 
see  our  division  in  the  center  of  the  field  advancing  in  a  gallant  charge.  The  rebels 
were  coming 
through  the 
woods  to  flank 
us.  It  looked 
like  ten  to  one 
against  us. 
Brave  Lieu 
tenant  'Jack' 
Ware  took 
command  of 
our  skirmish 
line,  and  or 
dered  me  to 
lead  the  cen 
ter  of  the  line. 
"Advancing 
under  a  heavy 
musketry  fire, 
and  rapidly 
firing,  I  turned 
back  to  cheer 

on  the  boys,  when  I  saw  John  Mclntyre,  a  brave  and  sturdy  Scotchman  (he  was  the  pet 
and  pride  of  Company  A)  throw  up  his  left  hand  and  fall  forward.  I  ran  back  to  him 
and  saw  that  he  had  been  instantly  killed.  Then  I  was  mad  clear  through.  I  ran  for 
ward  again,  rapidly  firing  my  breech-loader.  In  a  moment  a  musketry  fire  was  focused 
on  me ;  the  bullets  whizzed  around  me  thick.  One  went  through  my  hat,  another 
through  my  right  coat-sleeve,  and  one  so  close  to  my  cheek  that  I  could  feel  it 
burn.  But  I  cared  nothing  for  life  or  death — I  was  in  to  stay.  It  seemed  to  me 
just  then  that  if  our  little  company  did  not  hold  its  ground  we  should  be  flanked, 
and  our  army  defeated,  and  that  if  I  did  not  do  my  duty,  and  cheer  our  boys,  they 
might  not  stand.  I  had  fired  my  'forty  rounds' — my  last  cartridge  was  gone.  I 


WAVING    MY    HAT    IN    MY    LEFT,  I   RAN    FORWARD." 


—  315  — 


raised  my  empty  breech-loader  in  my  right  hand,  and,  waving  my  hat  in  my 
left,  ran  forward,  cheering  on  the  boys.  I  felt  a  good  deal  as  General  Corse  ex- 
expressed  himself  in  his  famous  dispatch  to  General  Sherman:  'I  am  out  of  pro 
visions,  I  have  lost  an  ear  and  part  of  a  cheek-bone,  but  I  can  whip  all  hell  yet!' 

"Well,  our  boys  rallied.  It  was  a  sudden  rush.  We  took  a  number  of  prisoners 
and  the  '  rebs '  gave  way.  Re-enforcements  came  up,  and  soon  our  whole  line  ad 
vanced,  and  Company  A  on  the  skirmish  line  shared  fully  in  the  victory  of  Pleasant 
Hill." 


A  BATTLE  BRIEF  BUT  BLOODY 


'"Pwo  hundred  Union  men  killed  and  wounded 
within  a  few  minutes  ! 

This  is  the  record  of  the  engagement  at  Cane 
River  Crossing,  La.,  than  which,  considering  its 
brief  duration,  there  was  no  fiercer  or  more 
bloody  struggle  during  the  entire  war. 

The  Confederates  were  in  a  strongly  fortified 
position ;  the  Union  forces  had  orders  to  drive 
them  out.  The  two  hostile  bodies  clashed  April 
24,  1864. 

First  Lieutenant  William  S.  Beebe,  of  the 
Ordnance  Department  of  the  army,  \vas  the 
officer  whose  leadership  won  brilliant  victory  for 
the  Federals  on  that  memorable  occasion.  He 
led  the  One  hundred  and  seventy-third  New  York 
Volunteers,  commanded  by  Colonel  Conrady,  and 
so  conspicuously  distinguished  himself  that  he 
was  brevetted  a  captain  and  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor. 

The  details  of  the  assault  are  told  by  Lieutenant  Beebe  hinself  as  follows  : 

"I  was  ordered  by  the  Chief  of  Staff  to  join  the  assaulting  column,  to  urge  the 
necessity  of  instant  attack,  as  I  knew  our  rear-guard  was  then  engaged  and  we 
had  to  lay  a  pontoon-bridge  to  cross  Cane  River.  The  division  was  deployed  for 
attack  on  Monett's  Bluff;  I  stated  the  necessity  of  instant  assault  and  offered  to 
lead  it.  The  offer  was  declined,  but  on  its  renewal  promptly  accepted.  I  was  the 
first  man  on  the  bluff.  The  color-guard  immediately  behind  me  lost  five  men  out  of 
eight,  and  the  killed  and  wounded  in  an  affair  of  ten  minutes  were  about  two 
hundred." 


WILLIAM  S.  BEEBE, 

First  Lieutenant,  Ordnance  Dt-pt.,  U.  S.  A. 

Highest  rank  attained:     Major. 
Born  at  Ithaca,  New  York,  in  1841. 


•316  — 


HE  KEPT  HIS  COLORS  FLYING 


A  BEAM  J.  BUCKLES  was  a  sergeant  in  Company 
**  E,  Nineteenth  Indiana  Volunteers,  which,  with 
the  Twenty-fourth  Michigan,  the  Second,  Sixth  and 
Seventh  Wisconsin,  formed  the  Iron  Brigade, 
so-called,  an  organization  composed  of  young  farm 
ers,  lumbermen  and  sailors.  A  sturdier  lot  of  sol 
diers  it  was  impossible  to  find  in  the  whole  Union 
Army.  This  brigade  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness,  where  it  sustained  its  enviable 
reputation.  The  Nineteenth  Indiana  especially 
gave  a  good  account  of  itself,  and  one  of  its  mem 
bers,  the  aforementioned  Sergeant  Buckles,  became 
a  Medal  of  Honor  hero  on  that  memorable  occasion. 
Though  wounded  in  the  shoulder  at  Gettysburg,  he 
remained  in  active  service.  As  to  the  fighting  at 

the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  the  incident  which  links  his  name  to  the  struggle , 
Sergeant  Buckles  says : 

"My  regiment  was  on  the  first  line,  and,  after  executing  some  hurried  movements 
on  the  morning  of  May  5th,  was  finally  drawn  in  line  of  battle  on  the  edge  of  the 
great  wilderness.  We  were  on  the  first  line  and  were  among  the  first  engaged. 
Expecting  an  attack  momentarily,  we  had  thrown  up  a  formidable  line  of  breast 
works,  and  the  exertions  thus  made  had  started  some  loose  bones  in  my  shoulder. 
I  sat  down,  stripped  my  clothes  back  and  with  a  small  pair  of  pincers  I  carried  I 
pulled  the  fragments  of  bone  out.  Just  then  we  got  the  order  to  advance  and  away 
we  went  down  into  the  dense  woods,  and  almost  immediately  striking  the  enemy's 
line  of  battle,  we  struck  them  hard,  Iron  Brigade  fashion,  and  drove  them  back 


ABRAM  J.  BUCKLES, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  19th  Indiana  Infantry. 
Born  in  Delaware  Co.,  Ind.,  Aug.  2, 1846. 


The  Wilderness. — When  Grant  assumed  supreme  command  of  the  Federal  Army  his  objective  was 
Eichmond,  Va.,  and  the  destruction  of  Lee's  army.  His  forces,  consisting  of  about  122,000  troops  and  350  guns, 
were  confronted  by  Lee  with  a  force  of  62,000  men,  and  over  200  guns,  at  the  Wilderness  on  May  5-7,  1864. 
This  battle,  which  included  engagements  at  Brock  Koad,  Craig's  Meeting  House,  Furnaces,  Parker's  Store, 
and  Todd's  Tavern,  was  the  first  of  the  battles  of  the  march  to  Richmond. 

On  the  5th,  Grant  had  fairly  crossed  the  Rapidan  River,  and,  having  met  with  no  opposition,  pushed 
on  through  the  wilderness,  unconscious  of  the  close  proximity  of  Lee's  Army.  Lee,  however,  suspecting 
Grant's  movement,  gave  him  battle  in  the  dense  forest,  where  the  fight  continued  throughout  the  day. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  fight  was  renewed,  the  desperate  struggle  being  carried  on  in 
the  now  burning  woods.  At  the  close  of  this  day's  battle  the  relative  strength  of  the  opposing  armies 
remained  about  as  at  first ;  and  the  only  decisive  gain  was  a  slight  one  on  the  Union  side. 

During  the  night  of  the  6th  Lee's  army  had  withdrawn,  and  as  it  showed  no  disposition  to  fight 
again  on  the  7th,  Grant  gave  orders  to  move  toward  Spottsylvania  Court  House. 

The  losses  sustained  during  the  two  days'  fight  were  about  15,000  on  each  side. 


—  317  — 


until  we  reached  a  cleared  place,  where  our  line  stopped  to  reform.  Meanwhile  the 
Johnnies  crossed  the  clearing  and  posted  themselves  in  a  dense  thicket.  Up  to  this 
time  I  had  been  unable,  because  of  the  bushes  and  trees,  to  unfurl  my  colors,  but  on 
coining  into  the  clearing  I  loosened  its  folds  and  shook  the  regiment's  flag  free  to 
the  breeze.  From  their  covered  position  the  enemy  had  begun  to  pour  a  withering 
fire  into  us,  comrades  were  dropping  at  every  hand  and  delay  was  fatal,  while  retreat 
was  never  dreamed  of.  The  only  possible  safety  lay  in  a  charge,  and  believing  that 
a  short,  quick  rush  with  such  a  line  as  we  had,  a  heavy  one,  would  force  the  Confed 
erates  to  fly,  I  ran  to  the  front.  Waving  the  flag  above  my  head,  I  called  on  the 
boys  to  follow.  To  a  man  they  responded,  and  together  we  dashed  toward  the 
troublesome  thicket.  We  were  going  in  fine  style  when  I  was  struck,  shot  through 
the  body.  I  fell,  but  managed  to  keep  the  flag  up  until  little  John  Divelbus,  one  of 
the  color-guard  and  as  brave  a  man  as  ever  lived,  took  it  out  of  my  hands,  to  be 
killed  a  few  minutes  later.  I  believed  I  had  received  my  death  blow,  but  I  realize 
now  that  instead  I  won  the  Medal  of  Honor." 


"OUR  COLORS  ARE  DOWN!" 


A  T  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  Company  I  of  the 
**  Sixty-second  New  York  Infantry,  known  as  the 
Anderson  Zouaves,  held  a  position  on  the  left  center 
of  the  regiment  next  to  the  color-guard.  In  the 
absence  of  a  commissioned  officer,  Sergeant  Charles 
E.  Morse  was  in  command  of  the  company,  which 
consisted  of  but  fifteen  men.  The  regiment  was 
ordered  to  advance  and  charge  the  enemy,  and 
carried  out  the  order  so  successfully  that  the  Con 
federates  were  driven  back  to  their  first  line  of  de 
fense.  They  were  given  no  chance  to  rally  and  had 
to  retreat  to  their  second  line.  Then  they  stopped, 
made  a  stand,  and  by  desperate  fighting  prevented 
the  regiment's  further  advance.  All  efforts  to  dis 
lodge  the  rebels  were  futile  ;  they  were  posted  too  strongly  on  the  ridge.  At  the 
same  time  their  fire  became  so  destructive  that  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  fall 
back  to  the  rifle  pits.  Though  this  movement  was  carried  out  in  perfect  order,  the 
Confederates  concluded  that  the  men  were  in  full  retreat  and  at  once  started  in  hot 
pursuit.  They  failed  to  bring  the  lines  of  the  New  York  regiment  into  disorder, 
however,  and  the  men  continued  to  fall  back,  all  the  time  loading,  facing  about  and 
firing.  Presently  the  color-sergeant  was  struck  by  a  ball.  He  staggered,  reeled 


CHARLES  E.  MORSE, 

Sergeant,  Co.  1, 62d  New  York  Infantry. 
Born  in  France,  May  5, 1841. 


—  818  — 


and  dropped,  covering  the  colors  with  his  body.  Then  someone  shouted :  "  The 
colors  are  down  ! "  Consternation  followed  the  outcry.  Two  men  at  once  broke  out 
of  the  ranks  and  started  toward  the  spot  where  the  dying  color-sergeant  lay.  The 
rebels,  too,  were  rapidly  approaching  the  coveted  spot.  Who  would  be  the  first  to 
reach  it,  the  enemy  or  the  daring  New  Yorkers  ?  The  latter  were  Corporal  Deitzel 
and  Sergeant  Morse.  Morse  was  first  at  the  side  of  his  almost  lifeless  comrade  and 
in  an  instant  secured  the  precious  colors.  He  was  soon  joined  by  Deitzel  and  both 
then  retreated  to  their  lines,  holding  the  enemy  at  a  safe  distance  by  keeping  up  a 
well-directed  fire.  In  the  retreat  Sergeant  Morse  was  shot  in  the  knee,  but  notwith 
standing  the  painful  wound  he  pluckily  remained  with  his  company  all  during  the 
subsequent  fighting,  carrying  aloft  the  banner  he  had  so  heroically  saved. 


THEIR  HEROISM  WAS  INFECTIOUS 


H 


EROISM  is  a  virtue  under  any  circumstance,  but  to 
l)e  heroic  in  the  hour  of  reverse  and  disaster  is 
the  noblest  kind  of  valor.  During  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  May  6, 1864,  two  Union  soldiers  furnished 
examples  of  bravery  which  belongs  to  this  latter 
category.  They  are  First  Sergeant  Edmund  English, 
of  Company  C,  Second  New  Jersey  Infantry,  and 
Sergeant  Leopold  Karpeles,  of  Company  E,  Fifty- 
seventh  Massachusetts  Infantry.  Both  accomplished 
the  most  unexpected  and  truly  extraordinary  results 
at  the  most  critical  time  of  the  battle,  when  the  dis 
integration  of  the  Union  forces  had  set  in,  demoral 
ization  prevailed  and  the  Federals  were  fleeing  in 
wild  disorder.  During  this  mad  rush  for  the  rear  the 
Second  New  Jersey,  along  with  other  regiments,  had 
been  ordered  to  fall  back.  The  command  aroused 
Sergeant  English's  indignation.  "  Is  there  nobody  to 

make  a  stand  ? "  he  exclaimed.     "  This  is  disgraceful ! " 

He  decided  to  act  on  his  own  responsibility,  even  though  it  be  insubordination. 

Quickly  he  seized  the  colors  of  his  regiment,  placed  himself  in  front  of  the  men, 

waved  the  colors  high  in  the  air  and  shouted  :    "Here,  boys  !     Stand  here  !    At  least 

a  few  of  us  should  stem  the  tide ! " 

His  bravery  was  infectious ;  the  men  caught  his  spirit  and  one  by  one  rallied 

around  the  flag,  till  at  last  quite  a  little  band  was  gathered  about  the  sergeant. 

They  did  not  only  "  stem  the  tide,"  but  repulsed  and  drove  the  Confederates  back  in 

wild  confusion. 


LEOPOLD  KARPELES, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  57th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Prague,  Bohemia,  Sept.  9, 1838. 


—  319  — 


While  this  was  taking  place  at  one  point  of  the  line  of 
battle,  Sergeant  Karpeles'  similar  conduct  brought  about  a 
similar  result  in  another  place.  He  was  the  color-sergeant 
of  his  regiment  and  keenly  felt  the  humiliation  of  soldiers 
deserting  their  colors. 

"Our  troops  were  rushing  wildly  to  the  rear/'  the  brave 
sergeant  narrates.  "  In  vain  did  our  colonel  take  a  stand 
and  call  the  boys  to  rally.  I  joined  our  colonel,  waved 
the  flag  and  likewise  called  on  my  comrades  to  halt  and 
form  on  us.  We  held  our  position  until  we  had  gathered 
a  sufficient  force  to  make  a  charge.  Presently  the  colonel 
commanded :  '  Forward,'  and  he  and  I  dashed  ahead,  I 
waving  our  flag  high  in  the  air.  Our  advance  was  entirely 
unexpected.  It  completely  dazed  the  Confederates  and  brought  their  advance  to  an 
end.  We  held  our  position  till  nightfall,  when  we  fell  back  in  good  order  and  reor 
ganized  our  forces." 


EDMUND  ENGLISH, 

1st  Sergeant,  Co.  C.  2d  X.  J.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Captain. 

Born  at  Cappanhite,  Ireland. 

Nov.  10,  LSI  1. 


DETERMINED  TO  FIGHT  THOUGH  WOUNDED 


0 


N  the  first  of  May,  1864,  the  Eighty-third  Penn 
sylvania  Infantry  broke  camp  at  Rappahan- 
nock  Station,  Va.,  and  started  on  the  march. 
Private  Jacob  E.  Swap,  a  member  of  this 
regiment,  had  been  placed  on  the  sick  list  and 
ordered  to  report  at  the  hospital,  but  declined 
to  do  so,  whereupon  the  surgeon  allowed  him 
to  follow  the  regiment  on  its  march,  in  an 
ambulance.  Upon  the  third  day  of  his  ride, 
while  still  convalescing,  he  determined  to  join 
his  company.  He  secured  a  gun  and  a  car 
tridge  box  and  started  to  carry  out  his  inten 
tions,  when  a  lieutenant  of  his  company 
observed  him.  He  immediately  took  the  gun 
from  Swap,  who  was  again  ordered  to  the 
rear.  This  time  he  remained  there  until  the 
5th,  two  days  later,  when  he  again  overtook 
his  company,  just  as  they  were  unslinging  their 

knapsacks  for  a  charge  in  the  Wilderness.     As  he  stepped  into  the  ranks,  armed  and 
ready,  his  lieutenant  asked  him  where  he  was  going. 
"I'm  going  with  the  boys,"  replied  Swap. 
"Remain  here  and  guard  these  knapsacks,"  the  lieutenant  ordered. 


JACOB  E.  SWAP, 

Private,  Co.  H.83d  Perm.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Coeymans,  Albany  Co  ,  N.  Y.,  August  12, 1840. 


—  320  — 

Swap,  after  several  fruitless  entreaties,  reluctantly  obeyed,  while  his  comrades 
dashed  away  on  the  charge.  They  soon  returned  in  disorder,  and  reformed  for  a 
second  charge. 

"I  then  saw  that  I  had  an  opportunity  to  get  into  the  fight,"  says  Private  Swap, 
"and  I  asked  a  group  of  my  comrades  whether  there  was  one  among  them  who 
would  let  me  have  his  gun.  One  of  them  immediately  said :  'Here,  take  it,  I've 
had  enough  of  this,'  whereupon  I  joined  in  the  charge. 

"  I  was  now  permitted  to  stay  in  the  ranks,  and  fought  with  the  company  on  the 
6th,  7th,  and  8th,  in  the  fights  around  the  Wilderness. 

"On  the  8th,  while  we  were  charging  on  the  breastworks  at  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  I  was  wounded  five  times,  when  within  a  few  yards  of  the  enemy,  after  which 
I  fired  one  more  shot  and  then  threw  my  gun  over  at  the  enemy. 

"My  wounds  prevented  me  from  gaining  the  rear,  where  I  now  wanted  to  be, 
and  I  was  captured  and  sent  to  Richmond." 


SHOT  THE  REBEL  COLOR-BEARER 


THE  repelling  of  Longstreet's  charge  and  re 
taking  of  the  Confederate  lines  and  bat 
tery  on  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness  were  among  the  most  thrilling 
episodes  of  the  entire  series  of  wild  fights. 
There  had  been  charges  and  repulses  all 
forenoon  and  until  afternoon,  the  Federals 
and  Confederates  moving  forward  and  falling 
back  alternately,  until,  with  the  ammunition 
entirely  exhausted,  the  cartridge  boxes  of  the 
dead  soldiers  were  the  chief  resource. 

At  last  the  One  hundred  and  forty-third 
Pennsylvania  Infantry  of  Wadsworth's  Division 
were  able  to  halt,  stack  arms  at  the  intersection 
of  the  Brock  and  Plank  Roads  and  prepare  their 
meals.  Colonel  Musser  having  been  killed,  Major 
Charles  Conyngham  was  in  command.  After 

a  rest  of  about  an  hour  an  order  came  from  General  Hancock  directing  the  brigade, 
in  command  of  Colonel  Irwin,  to  save  the  works  at  the  Cross-Roads,  upon  which 
Longstreet's  forces  were  then  advancing  at  a  charge.  Sergeant  Patrick  De  Lacy,  of 
Company  A  of  the  aforementioned  regiment,  in  command  of  the  company,  instantly 


PATRICK  De  LACY, 

First  Sergeant,  Co.  A,  143d  Perm.  Volunteers. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Captain. 
Born  in  Carbondale,  Lackawanna  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  25, 1834. 


—  321  — 


led  the  right  of  the  brigade  and  regimental  line  in  the  advance,  his  men  answering 
with  a  mighty  yell,  as  they  followed.  As  to  what  then  happened  a  graphic  descrip 
tion  by  one  of  the  participants  is  appended: 

"Away  we  went,  double-quick,  toward  the  woods  to  the  left  of  the  Plank  Road, 
Longstreet's  advance  being  eighty  rods  or  so  still  farther  to  our  left  coming  down 
the  Brock  Road.  On  we  pushed  up  toward  the  burned  clearing,  under  a  ter 

rific  fire  and  with  our  brave  comrades  falling  on  /          every  side.     Still  De 

Lacy   kept  the  lead  until,  when   right  up  to  the  m  works,    with 

the   Con- 
feder- 


"DASHING 
UP    TO    HIM 
SEIZED    THE 
FLAG." 


ates  in 
line  along 
the    woods 
and  keeping  up 
their  heavy  fire,  he  made 
a  dash  to  our  left  of  fifteen  or  eighteen 

rods,  right  between  the  fires,  to  the  edge  of  the  works.  There  he  found  a  rebel 
waving  his  colors,  and,  dashing  up  to  him,  seized  the  flag  and  shot  the  color-bearer 
down  in  plain  sight  of  both  sides.  The  colors  dropped,  and  a  panic  followed  among 
the  Southerners  for  a  brief  period,  but  long  enough  for  our  regiment  and  brigade  to 
reach  the  works  and  hold  them.  The  charge  had  been  a  grand  one  all  along  the 
line,  but  it  was  in  a  very  great  measure  inspired  and  encouraged  by  De  Lacy's 
daring  and  heroism  while  under  the  concentrated  fire  of  the  enemy.  His  escape 
was  a  miracle,  his  achievement  one  of  those  incidents  in  the  history  of  actual  war 
fare  which  causes  one  to  bubble  over  with  admiration  for  the  hero." 


—  322 


A  RESCUE  UNDER  DIFFICULTIES 


the  9th  of  May,  1864," 
narrates  Sergeant 
Stephen  Welch,  of  Company 
C,  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
fourth  New  York  Volunteer 
Infantry,  "the  enemy  was 
found  in  a  strong  posi 
tion  at  a  place  called  Kocky 
Face  Ridge,  near  Dalton,  Ga. 
In  the  afternoon  the  brigade 


STEPHEN  WELCH, 

Sergeant,  Co.  C.  154th  New  York  Vol 
unteer  Infantry. 

Born  at  Groton.  Tompkins  Co.,  X.   V. 
June  14,  1824. 


CHARLES  W.  McKAY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  C,  154th  New  York  Vol 
unteer  Infantry. 
Bom  at  Mansfield,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  25, 1847. 


was  got  in  readiness  for  in 
spection  of  said  ridge.  A 
few  of  my  company  were 
detailed  to  act  as  skirmish 
ers.  We  advanced  slowly 

and  cautiously,  covering  ourselves  as  best  we  could  till  we  got  within  four  rods  of  a 
perpendicular  palisade  crowning  the  top  of  the  ridge.  I  found  protection  behind  a 
rock,  from  which  point  I  could  occasionally  see  three  or  four  of  the  enemy  on  top  of 
the  hill,  and  had  a  chance  to  discharge  my  gun  in  that  direction.  Meanwhile  the 
brigade  came  up,  our  regiment  on  the  right.  They  all  went  up  to  the  perpendicular 
palisade  of  rock,  some  going  up  the  crevices  and  to  death.  After  about  half  an  hour 
the  bugler  sounded  a  recall,  and  the  brigade  went  down  that  hill  much  faster  than 
it  had  gone  up,  but  soon  we  got  into  proper  order  again.  About  this  time  the  major 
came  along  and  told  me  that  he  had  seen  a  wounded  soldier  of  my  company, 
between  the  lines,  adding  that  I  had  better  get  someone  to  help  me  go  up  and  get 
him.  Taking  a  tent-mate,  Sergeant  Charles  W.  McKay,  we  started  out  under  a 
heavy  fire,  not  only  from  the  enemy,  but  also  from  our  own  lines.  We  found 
George  Greek,  a  corporal  of  the  color-guard,  badly  wounded  in  both  legs.  The  poor 


Coincident  with  the  beginning  of  Grant's  campaign  in  the  Wilderness  began  the  great  campaign  best 
known  as  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea.  On  the  7th  of  May,  1864,  with  a  force  of  100,000  men,  General  Sher 
man  advanced  from  Chattanooga,  forcing  back  the  Confederate  General,  Johnston,  who  had  an  army  of 
60,000  men.  Dalton,  Itesaea.  Dallas,  Lost  Mountain,  the  Great  and  Little  Kenesaw  Mountains  were  the 
stands  taken  by  the  retreating  Confederates,  and  were  engagements  in  which  they  were  outnumbered,  out- 
Hanked  and  defeated.  On  the  22d  of  June,  General  Hood  made  an  attack  on  the  Union  center  and  was 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  Five  days  later,  General  Sherman  attempted  to  carry  the  Great  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  but  was  repulsed,  losing  3,000  men.  He  then  resumed  his  former  tactics,  outflanked  the  enemy 
and  compelled  him  to  retreat  across  the  Chattahoochee.  By  the  10th  of  July,  the  whole  Confederate  army 
had  retired  within  the  defenses  of  Atlanta. 


—  323  — 


"THE  POOR  FELLOW  HAD  BEEN 
TRYING  TO  DRAG  HIMSELF 

ALONG  WITH    HIS  HANDS." 


fellow  had  been  trying  to  drag  himself  along  with  his  hands,  and  had  sunk  down, 
overcome  by  faintness  and  exhaustion.  McKay  revived  him  with  a  drink  from 
his  canteen,  after  which  the  corporal,  raising  himself  on  his  elbow,  asked  if  the  colors 
were  safe.  We  assured  him  that  they  were,  and  he  dropped  down  again,  satisfied 
and  happy.  We  rolled  him  on  a  blanket,  picked  him  up,  and  with  bullets  whizzing 
about  us,  managed  to  get  him  off  the  field." 


—  324— 


HE  CHECKED  THE  PANIC 


ROBERT  S.  ROBERTSON, 

1st  Lieutenant,  93d  N.  Y.  Volunteers 
Highest  rank  attained:  Colonel, 

U.  8.  Volunteers. 
Born  at  Argyle,  April  16, 1839. 


THE  engagement  at  Corbin's  Creek  was  preliminary  to 
the  battle  of  Spottsylvania.    Lieutenant  Robertson 
gives  an  account  of  the  very  creditable  conduct  of  his 
brigade  as  well  as  his  own  experience  on  this  occasion  : 

"  By  a  rapid  march  early  in  the  morning  of  May  8, 
1864,  the  Second  Army  Corps,  to  which  I  was  attached  as 
aide-de-camp,  gained  the  road  which  the  Fifth  Corps  had 
just  passed.  We  reached  Todd's  Tavern,  Va.,  our  desti 
nation,  at  nine,  when  our  Corps  was  aligned  on  the  Brock 
Road  and  across  the  Catherpen,  to  prevent  an  expected 
attempt  on  the  part  of  Lee  to  cut  our  marching  column 
in  two. 

"Soon  our  brigade  was  pushed  out  through  the  hot  pine  woods  to  a  valley, 
through  which  runs  Corbin's  Creek.  Here  on  a  brow  of  the  upland  we  halted  for  a 
time  and  the  picket  line  was  posted  to  guard  the  approaches  in  that  direction. 
Hardly  had  it  been  posted  in  a  road  which  runs  down  to  the  valley,  separated  from 
us  by  a  stream  bordered  with  a  dense  growth  of  bushes  and  tangled  vines,  before  it 
was  thought  necessary  to  extend  the  line  further  to  our  right,  to  cover  another  by 
way  there.  That  duty  fell  to  me. 

'"The  work  was  done,  and  I  was  riding  down  the  road  to  an  opening  in  the 
bushes  where  the  stream  could  be  crossed,  when  I  found  a  line  of  battle  moving 
toward  me  and  toward  our  position.  There  was  no  escape  except  through  the  gap 
they  were  rapidly  approaching,  and  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  for  if  they  reached  the 
opening  before  me,  my  march  would  end  in  Richmond  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

"They  evidently  believed  I  was  coming  to  surrender,  for  they  invited  me  to  join 
them  in  terms  the  politest  of  which  were:  'Come  in.  you  damned  Yank,  we'll  take 


Spottsylvania — On  the  7th  of  May,  1864,  after  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  the  Union  Army  began  its 
march  toward  Spottsylvania,  Va.  Grant,  who,  on  his  way  to  Richmond,  had  hoped  to  pass  around  Lee's 
right  wing,  found  on  the  8th  the  whole  Confederate  Army  massing  about  a  mile  to  the  north  and  east  of 
Spottsylvania  directly  in  his  front.  Little  was  done  by  either  army  on  this  and  the  next  day,  except  the 
strengthening  of  works  and  the  posting  of  troops.  On  the  10th  Grant  resolved  to  attack  Lee,  and  accord 
ingly  ordered  attacks  all  along  the  line,  the  most  notable  of  which  was  Upton's  storming  party.  The 
armies  rested  on  the  following  day,  on  the  evening  of  which  Grant  ordered  an  assault  for  the  next  morning. 
After  a  difficult  night  march,  Hancock  pressed  on  and  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight  rushed  upon  the  enemy's 
breastworks  and  captured  a  whole  division  of  Ewell's  Corps.  Lee  hastened  re-enforcements  to  Ewell  and 
at  this  point,  the  "Bloody  Angle,"  the  battle  raged  all  day  and  until  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  13th. 
The  Confederates  tried  vainly  to  dislodge  the  Union  troops  by  massing  heavily  on  Lee's  broken  line,  but 
finally  took  a  position  in  rear  of  his  former  one,  and  there  entrenched  himself. 

This  last  twenty-four  hours'  fight  closed  the  eight  days'  battle  around  Spottsylvania,  the  Federal 
Army  losing  8,000  men  and  the  Confederates  about  the  same  number. 


—  326  — 

good  care  of  you.'  But  the  opening  was  reached  and  I  showed  my  horse's  tail, 
and  his  speed  as  we  galloped  up  the  hill.  Scattering  volleys  were  fired,  but  the  rebels 
were  too  excited  to  aim  well,  and  shot  wildly.  At  the  top  of  the  hill  was  a  rail  fence. 
The  horse  leaped  it  finely,  but  the  saddle  girth  had  become  loose,  the  saddle  turned, 
and  I  fell.  To  mount  again  was  only  the  work  of  a  moment,  for  the  dread  of  a 
rebel  prison  almost  gives  one  wings.  The  volleys  meant  for  me  had  roused  the 
brigade,  which  greeted  me  with  hearty  cheers  as  I  rode  into  the  line  with  my  saddle 
under  my  horse  instead  of  under  me. 

"  The  attacking  column  appeared,  but  halted  to  make  proper  dispositions  for  the 
attack,  and  we  were  ordered  to  a  better  position  a  little  to  the  rear.  Shortly  after 
another  rebel  brigade  was  discovered  moving  on  our  right  flank,  and  we  had  to  pre 
pare  for  an  attack  on  our  right  and  the  one  in  our  front  at  the  same  time.  Re-en 
forcements  were  sent  for,  and  we  prepared  to  defend  ourselves  as  best  we  could 
until  they  should  arrive. 

"The  brigades  in  front  moved  steadily  up  the  slope,  their  muskets  at  a  ready. 
Gallant  Colonel  McKeen,  of  the  Thirty-first  Pennsylvania,  had  charge  of  that  part 
of  that  line  with  his  own  regiment  and  the  Twenty-sixth  Michigan.  He  sat  on  his 
horse,  calmly  speaking  words  of  encouragement  to  his  men,  many  of  whom  were 
recruits  who  had  never  been  under  fire  before. 

"  The  '  ki-yi-yi '  of  the  Confederates  was  not  answered  until  their  line  was  close 
upon  us.  Then  a  volley  answered  their  triumphant  yells,  sending  many  to  their 
long  home,  but  they  closed  their  ranks  and  marched  steadily  on.  McKeen  met 
them  with  another  volley,  which  drove  them  down  the  hill.  Now  commenced  hot 
work  on  the  right.  Here  were  the  Sixty-first  New  York  and  the  One  hundred  and 
fortieth  and  One  hundred  and  eighty-third  Pennsylvania,  under  General  Miles  in 
person.  The  Confederates  charged  and  nearly  drove  in  our  center  (the  One  hun 
dred  and  eighty-third  Pennsylvania)  which  broke  and  drifted  to  the  rear.  The  staff 
tried  to  drive  and  coax  the  frightened  men.  I  at  once  seized  the  colors  from  the 
frightened  guard  and  rode  with  them  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  to  their  former 
place.  This  checked  the  panic  and  inspired  the  men.  The  regiment  rallied  on  its 
colors ;  the  line  was  saved,  and  our  little  brigade  was  proud,  for  we  had  whipped 
two  brigades  of  Mahone's  Division  before  any  re-enforcements  reached  us,  and  we 
were  received  with  hearty  cheers  as  we  filled  the  trenches.  We  had  lost  nearly  two 
hundred  men,  and  were  obliged  to  leave  our  dead  upon  the  field." 


—  327  — 


RESCUED  HIS  COMRADE 


MOSES  A.  LUCE, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  Fourth  Michigan  Infantry. 
Born  in  Adams  Co.,  111.,  in  1842. 


'"THE  battle  of  Laurel  Hill,  as  it  is  termed,  was 
in  reality  a  part  of  the  battle  of  Spottsyl- 
vania,  and  is  so  known  historically,"  writes 
Sergeant  Moses  A.  Luce,  of  Company  E,  Fourth 
Michigan  Infantry.  "Laurel  Hill  was  a  slight 
elevation  situated  in  front  of  the  right  of  our 
army,  and  occupied  by  the  Confederate  army 
behind  earthworks  throwrn  up  by  them 
during  the  two  previous  days.  Early  in 
the  morning  of  May  10,  1864,  our  regi 
ment,  containing  at  that  time  about  one 
hundred  men,  and  the  Twenty-second 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  were  designated 
to  lead  an  assault  on  the  works  in  front  of 
our  line.  We  were  supported  by  the  divi 
sion  drawrn  up  in  line  at  a  short  distance  back  of  us.  The  morning  was  foggy.  We 
were  advanced  close  to  our  picket  line  upon  a  slight  elevation,  leaving  a  small  valley 
between  us  and  the  enemy.  Our  muskets  were  unloaded,  bayonets  fixed,  and  we 
thus  awaited  the  order  to  charge.  A  light  wind  suddenly  broke  the  fog  in  front  of 
us,  when  we  were  hastily  ordered  forward  without  any  supports  and  were  imme 
diately  observed  by  the  enemy,  who  opened  fire  upon  us  from  their  picket  line  and 
also  from  their  artillery.  Charging  rapidly  toward  the  enemy  and  receiving  a  fire 
of  canister  and  grape  from  their  cannon,  the  greater  portion  of  which,  however, 
passed  over  our  heads,  we  broke  through  their  picket  line,  and  paying  no  further 
attention  to  them  pushed  on  to  the  foot  of  the  main  breastworks  of  the  enemy.  At 
this  point  the  musketry  of  the  enemy  opened  upon  us  with  terrible  effect.  Five  out 
of  seven  of  my  company,  of  which  I  was  in  command,  were  struck  by  this  fire,  and 
the  assaulting  column,  being  unsupported,  fell  back  in  disorder. 

"Although  not  wounded,  I  fell  prostrate  into  a  ditch  running  down  the  hillside, 
where  I  remained  possibly  a  minute  listening  to  the  whiz  of  the  balls  over  my  head 
and  the  cries  of  the  wounded  and  the  yells  of  the  enemy.  I  was  in  comparative 
safety  in  the  ditch,  but  if  I  remained  I  would  be  taken  prisoner,  and  the  horrors  of 
Andersonville  were  then  pictured  in  dreadful  detail.  I  concluded  to  run  the  risk  of 
escaping,  and,  rising  with  my  musket  in  my  hand,  a  ball  struck  the  stock,  which  I 
held,  and  another  ball  cut  the  skin  just  over  my  eye.  With  all  the  speed  I  had  I  ran 
down  the  hillside  and  across  the  valley,  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  first  rifle  pit  of  our  pickets  and  leaped  into  it.  The  enemy  leaped 
over  their  works,  and  with  yells  started  to  charge  down  the  slope,  but  they  were  met 
by  such  a  heavy  fire  that  they  soon  retired.  The  cannonading  continued  at  intervals 


—  328  — 


On  both  sides  with  the  musketry  fire  in  broken  volleys.  Hearing  a  cry  for  help  from 
some  wounded  soldier  who  lay  very  close  to  the  picket  rifle  pits  of  the  enemy,  I 
asked  who  it  was.  Upon  hearing  that  it  was  Sergeant  La  Fleur,  I  at  once  responded 
to  his  call,  dropping  my  musket,  however,  and  running  forward  toward  the  spot 
where  he  lay.  When  I  reached  him  he  was  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground,  with  his 
leg  broken  below  the  knee  by  a  grapeshot,  and  was  bleeding  profusely.  He  was  a 
smaller  man  than  I,  and  I  tried  to  lift  him  in  my  arms,  but  finding  that  impossible 
I  kneeled  down  and  told  him  to  get  his  arms  about  my  neck  and  get  on  my  back,  I 
remaining  on  my  hands  and  knees.  Then  rising,  and  in  a  stooping  position,  I  carried 
him  rapidly  to  the  rear  of  our  line.  Here  I  found  several  men  and  one  or  two 
officers,  and  having  stanched  the  flow  of  blood  I  returned  to  our  rifle  pits." 


"LET'S  SAVE  OUR  COMRADE!" 


OERGEANT  HOWELL  B.  TREAT,  of  Company  I, 
^  Fifty-second  Ohio  Infantry,  won  the  ad 
miration  of  his  comrades  and  of  his  superior 
officers  by  his  conduct  during  the  engagement 
at  Buzzard's  Roost,  Ga.,  May  11,  1864.  He  was 
on  the  skirmish  line  braving  a  most  galling 
fire.  Many  a  brave  Union  soldier  lost  his  life 
or  was  wounded  on  that  occasion.  In  almost 
every  instance  it  was  possible  to  bring  the 
injured  to  the  rear,  but  at  one  time  during  the 
charge  one  of  Sergeant  Treat's  comrades  was 
wounded  and  left  on  the  field  close  to  the  rebel 
works. 

The  sergeant  could  not  endure  the  sight  of 
one  of  his  men,  covered  with  blood  and  unable 
to  move,  being  made  a  target  for  further  shots  from  the  enemy. 

"  Boys,  let  us  save  our  comrade  ! "  he  exclaimed.  Immediately  two  men  an 
nounced  their  willingness  to  accompany  the  sergeant. 

Unheedful  of  the  shower  of  bullets  and  terrific  fire  of  musketry,  they  started  for 
the  rebel  works,  but  had  not  proceeded  far  when  the  two  privates  were  stricken 
down  by  well  directed  bullets,  leaving  Sergeant  Treat  alone  to  carry  out  the  mission 
of  mercy.  Three  times  this  brave  soldier  was  struck  by  rebel  balls,  one  passing 
through  his  hat  above  the  right  ear,  and  two  going  clear  through  the  blouse,  each 
bullet  inflicting  a  painful  though  not  serious  wound.  However  he  persisted  in 
reaching  his  wounded  comrade  and  succeeded  in  assisting  him  safely  back  to  the 
Union  lines,  Cheers  greeted  the  gallant  rescuer  and  rescued  as  they  returned. 


HOWELL  B.  TREAT, 

Sergeant,  Co.  I,  52d  Ohio  Infantry. 
Born  at  Painesville,  Lake  Co.,  O.,  in  1833. 


—  329  — 


ON  the  morning  of  May  26, 1864,  Colonel  Thomas  C.  Devin  led  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  from  Pole  Cat  Creek  to  Mangohick  Church,  Va., 
where  a  halt  was  made  for  several  hours.  The  march  was  then  taken  up  again  and 
the  Pamunkey  River  reached  at  a  point  opposite  Hanover  Town,  Va.,  at  daybreak 
the  following  morning.  After  crossing  the  pontoon  bridge  the  Federals  went  into 
position  on  the  hill  to  the  right  and  in  front  of  Hanover  Town.  The  Seventeenth 
Pennsylvania  thereupon  was  ordered  to  the  right  to  support  a  regiment  of  the  First 
Brigade,  which  then  was  advancing  upon  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  While  a 
squadron  of  the  Ninth  New  York  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  right  to  cover  the 
flank  of  the  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania,  as  the  Confederates  showed  no  disposition 
to  engage  the  Union  forces  and  retired  into  the  woods,  Colonel  Devin  ordered 
part  of  the  squadron  of  the  Ninth  New  York  to  charge  the  retreating  rebels. 
Their  pickets  were  driven  across  the  creek  and  over  the  opposite  hill,  where  nearly 
a  whole  brigade  of  South  Carolina  Cavalry  was  attempting  to  get  into  position. 

First  Lieutenant  John  T.  Rutherford,  of  Troop  L,  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry,  led 
the  charging  column.  Upon  finding  that  the  bridge  had  been  destroyed,  he  jumped 
his  horse  into  the  creek,  forded  it,  followed  by  his  command ;  and,  attacking  the 
rebels,  drove  them  back  on  their  reserve,  where  they  became  entangled  with  their 
train.  Taking  advantage  of  the  enemy's  confusion  and  disorder,  Lieutenant  Ruther 
ford  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  whole  brigade.  This  bold  demand  so  stag 
gered  the  Confederates  that  they  were  unable  to  gather  enough  energy  to  resist  it, 
and  were  about  to  comply,  when  one  of  their  officers  with  more  courage  than 
discretion  called  on  his  men  not  to  be  cowards  and  to  form  into  line. 

In  a  second  Lieutenant  Rutherford  was  at  the  officer's  side  and  with  one  well-direct 
ed  shot,  which  killed  his  horse,  had  him  lying  on  the  ground.  The  officer  regained  his 
feet,  however,  and  Rutherford  then  struck  at  him  with  his  now  empty  pistol.  The 
Confederate's  sabre  parried  the  assault,  but  the  next  moment  Rutherford  landed  a 
telling  blow  on  his  opponent's  head  and  placed  him  hors  de  combat.  The  rebel  sur 
rendered  and  was  sent  to  the  rear. 

In  explanation  of  this  unique  duel  it  should  be  stated  that  while  fording  the 
creek  Lieutenant  Rutherford  broke  his  belt  and  lost  his  sabre  and  that,  therefore, 
the  pistol  was  his  only  weapon. 

Two  weeks  prior  to  this  incident,  Lieutenant  Rutherford  distinguished  himself  in 
a  like  manner,  when  during  an  engagement  between  General  Merritt's  Federal  and 
General  Stuart  s  Confederate  Cavalry  Divisions  at  Yellow  Tavern,  Va.,  he  led  his 
squadron  in  a  dashing  charge  on  the  rebels,  completely  routing  them  and  capturing 
ninety  prisoners. 

For  both  these  brave  acts  he  was  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


HE  STRUCK   AT    HIM   WITH    HIS   EMPTY   PISTOL. 


—  831  — 

The  capture  of  their  officer  dismayed  the  rebels  and  they  offered  no  further  re 
sistance.  Then  the  small  body  of  Union  cavalry  found  itself  in  a  peculiar  position. 
How  could  they  think  of  successfully  bringing  to  their  lines  such  large  numbers  of 
prisoners  ? 

Not  desiring  to  take  chances  or  run  any  risk,  they  picked  out  some  100  prisoners 
and  fell  back  upon  the  brigade. 

Colonel  Devin  smiled  as  he  received  the  victorious  New  Yorkers. 

"  Did  you  intend  to  take  the  whole  brigade  ? "  he  asked  Lieutenant  Rutherford. 

"I  would,  if  I  had  enough  men  to  guard  them,"  was  the  reply. 

"I  believe  it,"  the  Colonel  observed  as  he  shook  the  brave  lieutenant's  hand. 


HEROIC  ARTILLERY  WORK  OF  A  VOLUNTEER 


JOHN  P.  BEECH, 

Sergeant,  Co.  B,  4th  N.  Y.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Derbyshire,  Eng.,  May  1. 1844. 


x  the  12th  of  May,  during  the  battle  of  Spott- 
sylvania,"  says  Sergeant  John  P.  Beech  of 
Company  B,  Fourth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  "General 
Upton  ordered  a  battery  of  artillery  to  take  a  position 
on  his  right  to  sweep  the  large  open  field  in  front  of 
the  'Bloody  Angle.'  Lieutenant  Metcalf 's  Section  of 
Battery  C,  Fifth  New  Hampshire,  immediately  ad 
vanced  into  position,  but  the  enemy's  fire  was  so 
heavy  the  men  and  horses  fell  like  leaves  in  autumn. 
"  Both  our  regiment  and  the  rebels  on  our  left 
were  now  advancing  toward  the  clearing  in  front  of 
the  'Angle,'  the  objective  point  for  each  being  Met 
calf's  unlucky  section.  Upon  seeing  the  critical  posi 
tion  they  were  in  and  that  all  the  men  except  Lieu 
tenant  Metcalf  and  Sergeant  Lines  had  been  killed  or  wounded,  I  laid  down  my 
musket  and  volunteered  to  go  and  help  work  the  gun.  I  received  permission  to  go, 
and  upon  reaching  it  proceeded  to  serve  ammunition.  We  had  but  four  charges  of 
canister  left,  when  a  Mississippi  regiment  came  charging  down  upon  us,  but  we 
worked  that  gun  as  fast  as  it  was  possible  for  three  men  to  work  it.  The  rebels  came 
to  within  100  feet  of  us,  and  after  giving  them  our  four  charges  of  canister  we  fol 
lowed  that  up  with  spherical  case  and  shell,  until  our  ammunition  was  exhausted, 
when  Lieutenant  Metcalf  ordered  up  the  limber,  but  as  it  was  coming  forward  the 
horses  were  shot  down.  A  well-directed  fire  from  the  infantry  behind  a  crest  pre 
vented  the  Mississippi  regiment's  farther  advance,  and  for  eighteen  hours  the  fight 
continued  at  this  point.  In  the  meantime  a  body  of  our  regiment  finally  got  the 
piece  off  the  field,  leaving  the  limber  there  until  the  next  day." 


—  332  — 


OBEYED  AN   ILL-ADVISED   ORDER 


H 


LEWIS  S.  WISNER, 

Captain.  Co.  K.  124th  New  York  Infantry. 
Born  at  Middleton,  N.  \'.,  Aug.  11, 1841. 


E  who  stands  ready  to  sacrifice  himself  rather 
than  endanger  the  lives  of  those  entrusted  to 
his  care  is  a  most  illustrious  hero.  The  conduct  of 
Captain  Lewis  S.  Wisner,  of  Company  K,  One  hundred 
and  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Infantry,  engineer 
officer  on  General  J.  H.  Hobart  Ward's  staff  during 
the  battle  of  Spottsylvania,  brings  him  within  that 
type  of  lofty  military  heroes. 

About  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  May  12  he 
received  written  orders  from  the  division  engineer 
officer  to  lower  the  breastworks  near  the  "Bloody 
Angle"  eighteen  inches  in  front  of  one  of  the  Union 
batteries,  which  was  engaged  in  raking  the  tree-tops 
to  dislodge  the  rebel  sharpshooters. 

One  side  of  these  works  was  occupied  by  the  Con 
federate,  the  other  by  the  Union  troops,  and  so  severe  was  the  fire  at  this  portion 
of  the  line  that  a  large  oak  tree  was  completely  cut  in  two  by  musketry  fire  alone. 
Captain  Wisner  proceeded  to  the  breastworks,  placed  his  men  in  a  position  of 
safety  and  reported  his  orders  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  battery.  The  latter 
received  the  captain  with  scorn. 

"Lower  the  works  ?"  he  exclaimed.  "I'll  train  my  gun  upon  the  man,  and  blow 
him  to  'Kingdom  Come,'  who  dares  touch  the  works." 

Captain  Wisner  handed  him  his  written  orders  and  retorted :  "  Here  are  my 
orders,  sir.  They  will  be  obeyed,  guns  or  no  guns."  And  he  at  once  proceeded  to 
carry  out  his  instructions. 

The  top  of  the  works  was  capped  with  a  heavy  log  raised  a  few  inches  to  make  a 
loop  through  which  the  infantry  might  fire.  Placing  two  men  at  each  end  of  the 
log,  the  captain  ordered  it  to  be  removed.  Having  been  wired  at  each  end  to  the 
adjoining  logs  and  also  on  the  side  where  the  Confederates  were,  the  removal  of 
the  log  could  not  be  accomplished. 

Captain  Wisner  was  fully  convinced  that  instant  death  awaited  anyone  who 
attempted  to  remove  the  obstruction,  and  refused  to  expose  his  men  to  any  such 
danger.  "  I'll  do  it  myself,"  he  said.  Provided  with  an  ax  obtained  from  one  of  his 
detail,  he  leaped  to  the  top  of  the  breastworks  and,  with  one  well-directed  blow, 
severed  one  end  of  the  log.  He  ran  quickly  to  the  other  end  and  cut  the  log  at  that 
point.  He  escaped  unhurt,  but  his  clothes  were  riddled  with  bullets  in  many  places. 
Thus  the  breastworks  were  lowered,  the  order  obeyed,  but  someone  had  blundered  ! 
The  commander  of  the  battery  asked  Captain  Wisner  if  he  would  not  replace  the 
log  in  its  former  position,  and  the  brave  captain,  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  the 
request,  complied.  "  You  have  accomplished  the  most  heroic  act  I  ever  witnessed, 
Captain,"  said  the  battery  commander  as  he  grasped  Wisner's  hand. 


"I'LL    DO    IT    MYSELF,"    HE    SAID. 


—  334  — 


AVENGED  HIS  COMRADE'S 
DEATH 


WILLIAM  W.  NOYES, 

Private,  Co.  F,  Second  Vermont  Infantry. 
Born  at  Montpelier,  Vt.,  1861. 


of  the  most  dramatic  incidents  of  the  battle 
of  Spottsylvania  is  summed  up  in  the  follow 
ing  words  by  General  L.  A.  Grant : 

"The  struggle  at  the  'Angle'  was  emphatically 
a  hand-to-hand  fight.  Scores  were  shot  down  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  death-dealing  muskets  in  the  very 
face  of  the  enemy.  Some  men  clubbed  their  mus 
kets,  and  in  some  instances  used  clubs  and  rails. 
In  this  way  the  brigade  was  engaged  for  eight 
hours.  The  slaughter  of  the  enemy  was  terrible. 
Behind  their  traverses  and  in  the  pits  and  holes 
they  had  dug  for  protection,  the  rebel  dead  were 

found  piled  up  on  one  another.     Some  of  the  wounded  were  almost  entirely  buried 
by  the  dead  bodies  of  their  companions  that  had  fallen  upon  them." 

Private  William  W.  Noyes,  of  the  Second  Vermont  Infantry,  augments  the  fore 
going  description  by  the  following  pen-picture  of  the  part  he  played  in  this  battle : 
"We  had  reached  the  'Bloody  Angle' — a  pile  of  logs,  with  a  slight  embankment 
on  the  inner  side.  There  the  Johnnies  were,  just  over  the  pile,  while  we  lay  in 
the  slout  in  front.  Muskets  were  pushed  through  the  openings  between  the  logs 
and  fired  right  into  the  faces  of  our  men.  Suddenly,  right  near  where  I  was 
lying,  one  of  the  Confederates  raised  a  white  rag  or  handkerchief  fastened  to  the 
end  of  his  musket.  Some  of  our  men  took  it  for  a  flag  of  truce  and  one  of  them 
raised  his  head  over  the  breastworks,  when  with  a  cheer  the  Johnnies  emptied  their 
muskets  into  the  poor  fellow,  killing  him  instantly. 

"Infuriated  beyond  control  by  such  treachery  and  determined  upon  revenge,  I 
called  on  the  men  near  me  to  load  their  pieces  as  rapidly  as  possible  and  hand  them 
up  to  me.  Then  I  jumped  to  the  top  of  the  breastworks  and  killed  the  rebel  near 
est  to  me  in  such  short  order  that  the  others  became,  for  a  moment,  completely  be 
wildered,  and  were  unable  to  use  their  weapons.  My  comrades  handed  up  their 
guns  so  rapidly  that  I  was  constantly  kept  busy.  The  enemy  did  not  seem  to  regain 
their  wits  until  I  had  fired  five  or  six  shots.  They  then  began  shooting  at  me, 
but  for  some  reason  they  proved  to  be  poor  marksmen,  and  I  continued  to  fire 
at  them  until  a  bullet  knocked  my  hat  off,  when  I  jumped  back  to  my  former 
position.  John  Grant,  one  of  my  comrades,  then  mounted  the  embankment  and 
fired  a  shot,  but  was  immediately  killed  by  a  Confederate  bullet  which  pierced  his 
heart.  Upon  counting  afterward,  we  found  that  fifteen  guns  had  been  emptied 
during  this  brief  and  peculiar  assault." 


—  335  — 


LOST  IN  THE  WOODS -JOINED  ANOTHER  REGIMENT 


WILLIAM  H.  WILCOX, 

Sergeant,  Co.  G,9th  New  Hampshire  Infantry. 
Born  in  Lempster,  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  H. 


|N  the  night  of  May  11,  1864,  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  encamped  facing  the 
entrenched  works  of  the  enemy  at  Spottsylvania, 
and  ready  for  a  charge  at  daybreak.  I  was  de 
tailed  on  the  picket  line  and  took  my  position  on 
the  extreme  left." 

The  foregoing  is  related  by  Sergeant  William 
H.  Wilcox,  of  Company  G,  Ninth  New  Hampshire 
Infantry,  who,  recalling  an  interesting  incident 
from  the  battlefield,  continues : 

"At  daybreak  the  charge  was  made,  the  pick 
ets  being  instantly  converted  into  a  skirmish  line 
and  sent  in  advance  of  the  corps  to  ascertain  the 
position  of  the  enemy's  picket  line.  We  located 
the  Confederates  strongly  entrenched  just  across 
a  creek  in  the  woods  and  at  once  engaged  their 
pickets,  who,  in  spite  of  a  stout  resistance,  were 
soon  swept  away  by  the  advancing  corps. 

"  During  this  conflict  Lieutenant  Rice,  the  only  commissioned  officer  with  my 
company,  my  brother  and  several  others  were  wounded. 

"I  stopped  long  enough  to  assure  myself  that  my  brother  was  able  to  walk  and 
take  care  of  himself,  and  so,  bidding  him  good-bye,  started  with  a  corporal  and  a 
private  to  overtake  my  company,  which  I  had  seen  entering  the  woods. 

"  We  pressed  on  through  the  dense  forest,  where  solid  shot  and  exploding  shells 
were  screaming  over  our  heads,  and  cutting  twigs,  limbs  and  even  great  tree-tops, 
which  fell  in  showers  about  us.  Thus  marching  for  about  an  hour  with  the  roar  of 
battle  as  our  only  guide,  it  dawned  upon  us  that  we  were  lost — that  we  were  sepa 
rated  from  our  regiment,  away  from  our  post  of  duty  during  the  engagement  and 
without  leave.  Here  we  were,  three  able-bodied  men — idle,  helpless,  while  our  com 
rades  were  fighting  a  great  battle ! 

"  Naturally  we  were  anxious  to  rejoin  our  regiment  and  share  our  comrades'  fate. 
Presently  we  came  upon  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire,  which  was  brigaded  with  us. 
I  asked  and  received  permission  to  fight  with  that  regiment  and  we  three  were 
determined  to  do  our  duty  that  day  promptly  and  well. 

"At  night,  when  I  asked  the  commanding  officer  to  direct  us  to  our  regiment,  he 
not  only  complied,  but  added  that,  if  we  needed  assistance  in  accounting  for  our 
selves,  he  would  gladly  help  us  out.  He  subsequently  paid  us  a  high  compliment 
through  the  commander  of  our  regiment." 


—  336 


CAPTURED  A  WHOLE  COLOR-GUARD 


JOHN  H.  WEEKS, 

Private,  Co.  II.  15'2d  N.  Y.  Vol. 

Born  at  Hampton,  Windom  Co., 

Conn.,  March  15, 1845. 


N  the  night  of  the  llth  of  May,"  says  Private  John 
H.  Weeks,  "we  were  relieved  by  the  Fifth  Corps 
on  Laurel  Ridge,  where  we  had  been  lying  in  line  of 
battle  with  the  Pennsylvania  Bucktails  of  the  Fifth 
Corps  massed  in  our  rear,  expecting  to  charge  the 
enemy's  works,  which  were  in  a  strong  position  on  a 
parallel  ridge.  But  the  woods  caught  fire  between  our 
line  and  the  enemy's  position,  and  thus  caused  a  post 
ponement  of  the  charge. 

"  The  fire  had  lighted  up  our  skirmish  line  so  brightly 
that  we  had  lost  six  or  seven  men  in  my  company  by 
the   enemy's  sharpshooters.     We   lay   in  this  position 
until  about  9  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  we  were  relieved  by 
some  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  with  orders  to  move  to  the 
rear  as  silently  as  possible;  not  to  allow  our  cups  or  bay 
onets  to  rattle  or  make  a-ny  unnecessary  noise.     We  marched  all  night  through  the 
mud  and  rain,  and  I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  it  any  darker. 

"About  break  of  day  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  we  were  halted  in  line  of  battle 
with  the  orders:  'In  place,  rest.'  The  report  had  been  in  circulation  during  the 
night  that  we  wrere  going  to  relieve  the  Sixth  Corps  on  the  reserve,  that  we  might 
have  a  chance  to  rest,  as  we  had  been  under  fire  almost  constantly  since  we  crossed 
the  Rapidan,  six  days  before.  We  were  nearly  worn  out  for  want  of  sleep  and  food. 
When  we  halted  we  could  see  the  lights  of  camp-fires  shining  through  the  fog  in  our 
front,  w7hich  I  supposed  belonged  to  the  Sixth  Corps. 

"As  soon  as  we  were  ordered  to  rest,  I  threw  myself  down  into  the  mud  and  fell 
asleep.    In  a  few  minutes  I  was  awakened  by  the  arrival  of  an  aide  with  an  order 
for  General  Hancock,  who  happened  to  be  near  our  regiment.     I  heard  him  give  the 
order,  as  near  as  I  can  remember,  as  follows :     '  General  Meade  sends  his  compli 
ments,  and  directs  that  you  move  your  Corps  forward  and  occupy  those  wwks.' 

"We  were  called  to  attention  and  ordered  forward,  and  were  in  the  second  line 
of  battle  following  close  behind  the  first.  Soon  the  rebel  skirmishers  commenced 
firing  and  then  for  the  first  time  I  began  to  realize  that  we  had  work  before  us.  It 
was  now  getting  quite  light,  but  the  fog  prevented  us  from  seeing  far  in  advance. 
We  soon  came  to  an  open  field  with  a  gradual  ascent,  on  the  top  of  which  the  heavy 
timber  .had  been  felled.  The  boughs  were  sharpened  and  wires  were  stretched 
through  the  tree-tops.  Beyond  this  obstruction  were  the  enemy's  works,  which  con 
sisted  of  a  ditch  eight  feet  wide  and  nearly  as  deep,  with  a  row  of  long  poles  set  into 
the  ground  in  front,  their  sharpened  points  about  breast-high.  Immediately  in  rear 


—  337  — 

of  the  ditch  were  the  breastworks,  which  were  formed  of  earth  thrown  up  against  a 
facing  of  logs,  thus  making  the  distance  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  to  the  top  of 
the  works  from  twelve  to  fourteen  feet,  without  the  chance  of  a  foothold. 

"As  soon  as  we  came  near  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  enemy  opened  upon  us  with 
canister  and  musketry.  Their  artillery  had  been  massed  at  this  point  with  about 
thirty  guns,  all  double-shotted  with  canister.  It  did  not  seem  that  a  line  of  men 
could  possibly  reach  those  works  and  pass  those  obstructions  alive.  By  the  time  we 
reached  the  ditch  there  was  no  line  of  battle,  but  a  rushing  mass  of  yelling  Yankees. 
We  succeeded  in  wrenching  the  sharpened  poles  from  their  places,  and  used  them 
in  crossing  the  ditch  and  scaling  the  works.  The  point  of  the  rebel  works  upon 
which  the  charge  was  made  was  an  angle  in  the  shape  of  the  letter  'V,'  projecting 
out  of  their  line.  Our  left  struck  the  right  wing  of  the  angle,  so  that  when  we  got 
inside  of  the  works  we  could  see  the  rebels  on  the  left  wing  opposing  our  men  there, 
and,  as  we  advanced,  it  brought  us  in  the  enemy's  rear. 

"When  we  had  sent  our  prisoners  to  the  rear,  we  still  advanced,  but  very  slowly, 
on  account  of  our  broken  ranks.  About  this  time  I  saw  the  enemy  give  way  on  the 
left  wing,  and  among  the  rest  was  a  color-guard  surrounding  its  flag.  These  men 
fired  their  muskets  at  us  in  a  volley  and  broke  for  their  rear.  They  had  to  pass 
down  our  front  to  get  out  of  the  angle.  I  had  discharged  my  gun,  but,  making  up 
my  mind  to  have  those  colors,  I  ran  up  to  the  sergeant  and  snatched  the  flag  from 
him,  threw  it  on  the  ground  and  put  my  foot  on  it.  I  cocked  my  empty  gun  and 
told  them  that  the  first  man  that  moved  out  of  his  tracks  would  be  shot,  and  ordered 
them  to  throw  down  their  guns  and  surrender.  The  sergeant  said  to  them :  '  Boys, 
they  have  our  colors ;  let  us  go  with  them.'  They  threw  down  their  guns  and 
marched  to  the  rear  as  my  prisoners.  I  recrossed  the  works  and  started  for  our 
rear,  where  I  met  General  Hancock  and  his  staff  going  to  the  front.  When  I  saluted 
him,  he  asked  :  '  What  colors  are  those  you  have  there  ? '  I  told  him.  'Are  these 
your  prisoners  ? '  the  general  asked,  glancing  at  the  Confederates.  I  said  they  were. 
The  general  looked  at  one  of  his  staff,  smiling  a  little  incredulously,  for  there  were 
five  or  six  lusty  rebels,  while  I  was  only  a  lad  about  eighteen  years  old.  Then  he 
said :  '  Deliver  your  prisoners  to  the  provost  marshal ;  write  your  name,  company 
and  regiment  with  the  date  of  the  action,  on  a  slip  of  paper,  pin  it  on  your  colors 
and  turn  them  in  to  the  adjutant  of  your  regiment.'" 

A  few  months  later  Private  Weeks  received  his  Medal  of  Honor. 


—  338  — 


AT  THE  "BLOODY  ANGLE" 


CHARLES  H.  TRACY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  37th  Massachusetts  Volunteers. 
Born  in  Jewett  City,  Conn.,  Oct.  3, 1833. 


OERGEANT  CHARLES  H.  TRACY,  of  Company 
^  A,  Thirty-seventh  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteers,  relates  two  brave  adventures,  as 
follows : 

"At  the  'Bloody  Angle,'  Spottsylvania, 
May  12th,  our  corps,  the  Sixth,  supported 
the  Second  in  the  famous  charge  against 
Johnson's  Division  of  the  Confederate  Army. 
During  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  Lieutenant 
Wellman  was  badly  wounded,  and  I  was 
ordered  to  take  him  to  the  rear.  It  was 
about  a  mile  to  the  hospital,  and  the  shot 
and  shell  came  so  thick  and  fast  that  it  was 

extremely  hazardous  to  venture  across  with  a  wounded  comrade,  but  I  succeeded  in 
carrying  out  the  order,  and  after  placing  the  lieutenant  in  the  hospital,  I  came 
safely  back  through  the  fire.  Upon  reaching  my  company,  Lieutenant  Sparks  con 
gratulated  me,  saying :  '  Tracy,  I  hope  you  will  not  have  to  cross  that  field  on  a  like 
errand  again.'  Scarcely  had  he  finished  speaking,  when  a  ball  pierced  his  left  breast 
and  he  fell  into  my  arms.  We  thought  he  was  mortally  wounded,  but  discovering 
signs  of  life  in  him,  decided  to  take  him  to  the  hospital,  without  waiting  for 
orders." 

"At  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  April  2, 1864,"  continues  Sergeant  Tracy,  "my 
regiment  broke  camp  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  moved  up  to  the  enemy's  front. 
Brigade  pioneers  and  sharpshooters  were  ordered  to  rush  in  advance  of  the  brigade. 
The  pioneers  were  to  remove  all  obstacles  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works,  while  the 
sharpshooters  covered  the  parapet.  I  was  at  that  time  detailed  as  sergeant  of  the 
Third  Brigade  pioneers,  and  was  second  in  command  in  the  assault.  The  part  of 
the  line  we  were  expected  to  carry  was  made  of  enclosed  works,  connected  by 
breastworks  of  great  strength  with  outer  obstructions  in  the  form  of  two  lines  of 
chevaux  de  frise  and  two  lines  of  abatis.  It  was  impossible  to  take  the  works  while 
the  enemy  defended  them,  unless  the  several  lines  of  obstruction  were  first  removed. 
"As  Lieutenant  Shiver  was  wounded  early  in  the  attack  the  command  fell  on 
me,  and  in  directing  the  removal  of  the  first  two  lines  of  the  obstructions  I  received 
a  shot  over  my  ear  and  one  in  my  left  side  ;  and  while  removing  the  third  line,  a 
bullet  shattered  my  right  knee-joint,  costing  me,  subsequently,  the  loss  of  my  leg. 
Supporting  myself  on  the  abatis,  I  gave  my  orders  to  my  men,  and  at  last  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  them  carry  away  the  obstruction,  thus  enabling  General  Ed 
wards  to  rout  the  enemy  and  cut  the  railroad  and  telegraph.  The  flag  of  the 
Thirty-seventh  Massachusetts  was  the  first  to  wave  over  the  enemy's  works." 


Painted  by  E.  Packbauer. 


Copyrighted  1901. 


THE  BATTLE  OF   NEW  ORLEANS. 


—  341  — 


BETWEEN  TWO  LINES  OF  FIRE 


'""THE  battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  13  to  16, 
1864,  occurred  during  Sherman's  cam 
paign  in  Georgia  when  General  Sherman 
had  been  confronted  by  General  Johnston 
at  Dalton,  and  had  forced  him  to  fall  back 
upon  Resaca. 

During  the  engagement  of  the  15th  an 
act  of   most  conspicuous  gallantry  was  per 
formed    by    Major    H.    Edwin    Tremain.     This 
officer  had  not  been  assigned  to  duty  in  Sherman's 
army,   but  w^as  attached  to   the  personal  staff  of 
Major-General    Sickles,   who   was    visiting  the 
command  under  confidential    orders   from  the 
President.    With  his  chief's  permission,  the  major 
volunteered  for  staff  duty  under  General  Butterfield,  and 
rendered  important  service  in  command  of  a  brigade. 

By  an  unfortunate  accident  or  misunderstanding  during 
the  battle,  the  brigade  led  by  General  Harrison  was  fired 
upon  by  that  of  General  Coburn,  and  was  threatened  with 
the  utter  confusion  and  disaster  which  are  the  usual  and 
natural  result  of  such  a  blunder.  Major  Tremain  rode 
between  the  lines  in  front  of  Coburn's  command,  knock 
ing  down  the  muskets  of  the  front  rank  with  his  sword  and  hands ;  he  stopped  the 
firing,  saved  the  brigade  from  destruction,  and  the  assault  from  failure. 

After  the  battle  and  as  Major  Tremain  was  about  to  leave,  General  Butterfield 
gave  expression  to  his  appreciation  of  the  major's  services  in  the  following  letter : 
"As  you  are  about  to  leave  us  this  morning  to  resume  your  tour  with  General  Sickles, 
with  a  feeling  of  sincere  regret  at  losing  your  valuable  services,  it  is  a  great  pleasure 
to  thank  you  for  them.  Your  devotion  and  energy  in  camp  and  on  the  march,  your 
gallantry  at  our  assault  of  the  enemy's  works  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  and  your  genial  qualities 
have  endeared  you  to  us  all." 


V 


H.  EDWIN  TREMAIN, 

Major  and  A.  D.  C..  U.  A.  Vols. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Bvt. 
Brig-Gen. 

Born  in  Xew  York  City. 


Resaca,  (*a.,  was  one  of  the  stands  taken  by  the  Confederates,  under  Johnston,  who  were  retreating 
southward  before  Sherman's  Army  on  its  march  to  the  sea.  The  battle  at  this  place,  May  13-16,  1864,  was 
fiercely  contested. 

On  the  13th  Sherman  deployed  his  line  of  battle  against  the  town,  and  on  the  14th  he  closed  in,  envelop 
ing  it.  Skirmishing  occurred  all  day,  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  Schofleld's  Corps  was  heavily 
engaged  and  driven  back  some  little  distance.  By  a  sharp  movement,  Sherman  captured  the  town  of 
Calhoun,  Johnston's  base  and  reserves,  six  miles  below  Eesaca. 

Heavy  fighting  continued  on  the  15th,  in  which  McPherson's  and  Hooker's  Corps  were  actively 
engaged.  Meanwhile  Johnston  arranged  to  make  a  strong  attack  on  the  Federal  left ;  but  finding  too  strong 
opposition,  he  abandoned  the  idea  and  left  Resaca  with  his  army  on  the  night  of  the  15th. 

The  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  were  about  3,000  on  each  side. 


—  342  — 


RESCUED  BY  A  DRUMMER 


WILLIAM  LORD, 

Drummer,  Co.  C.  40th  Massachusetts  Infantry. 
Born  at  Bradford,  England,  Feb.  1, 1841. 


"\  A /"HEN  the  order,  "Every  man  for  himself !" 
"  '  is  given  and  organized  action  has  ceased, 
then  has  come  the  critical  time  for  the  soldier 
on  the  battlefield.  Deprived  of  the  directing 
hand  of  his  superior  officer  the  soldier  finds 
himself  thrown  upon  his  own  wit  and  resources 
to  extricate  himself  from  a  generally  desperate 
situation.  An  incident  like  that  occurred  dur 
ing  the  engagement  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  Va., 
May  16,  1864. 

Early  in  the  morning  the  Union  forces  had 
carried  the  bluff,  captured  the  enemy's  camp 
and  driven  the  Confederates  into  the  woods. 
The  Federal  brigade  then  formed  line  in  an 
open  clearing  extending  from  the  top  of  the 
bluff  to  the  Centralia  Road,  a  distance  of  about 
500  yards. 

The  Confederates  had  planted  a  battery  to  the  left  of  the  Union  line,  and  at  this 
point  were  able  to  greatly  annoy  their  opponents.  It  became  imperative  to  silence 
this  rebel  battery,  and  three  companies  of  the  Fortieth  Massachusetts  Infantry  were 
sent  under  command  of  Major  Jenkins  to  the  Centralia  Road  to  accomplish  this 
task.  Subsequently  the  three  companies  took  up  a  position  opposite  the  battery  on 
this  road,  and  from  behind  a  hastily  constructed  breastwork  of  rails  poured  such 
effective  fire  into  the  rebels  they  could  neither  load  nor  discharge  their  pieces.  Pres 
ently  the  Confederates  changed  their  tactics  and  made  a  charge,  and  also  sent  a 
large  body  of  troops  to  flank  the  small  force  behind  the  breastwork.  The  firing 
now  became  murderous.  Soon  the  brave  Massachusetts  men  found  themselves  short 
of  ammunition  and  had  to  rifle  the  cartridge  boxes  of  their  dead  and  wounded  com 
rades  to  obtain  the  necessary  supply.  The  rebels  charged  the  breastwork  and  en 
gaged  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight  with  those  on  the  other  side.  By  that  time  the  flank 
ing  rebels  were  approaching  and  the  situation  grew  more  desperate  every  minute, 
especially  since  the  Union  men's  ammunition  was  now  about  completely  exhausted. 
Realizing  that  further  resistance  would  be  folly,  Major  Jenkins  gave  the  order : 
"Every  man  for  himself !"  Then  confusion  reigned  supreme. 

A  description  of  what  followed  is  now  given  in  the  words  of  Drummer  William 
Lord,  of  Company  C,  who  earned  his  medal  on  that  occasion  : 

"  It  looked  as  if  not  one  of  us  would  be  able  to  get  away,"  he  says.  "Presently 
Sergeant  Weaver  ran  up  to  me,  grabbed  me  by  the  shoulder  and  exclaimed  :  '  Bill, 
come  on  or  we  will  be  captured  or  killed ! ' 


—  343  — 

"We  went.  Over  the  fence  and  into  the  woods  we  ran  toward  our  brigade, 
stumbling  over  the  bodies  of  our  wounded  and  dead  comrades.  There  were  the 
bodies  of  Privates  Russel  and  Reed,  friends  of  ours.  Only  the  night  before  Reed  told 
me  that  he  felt  as  if  he  would  be  killed  soon.  'If  I  am,  Bill,'  said  he,  'go  through  my 
pockets  and  send  the  few  belongings  I  have  to  my  family.'  There  he  was,  poor  fellow 
—dead !  I  stopped  long  enough  to  carry  out  his  request.  I  went  through  his  pockets 
and  took  charge  of  everything  he  carried.  Weaver  performed  the  same  act  for 
Russell.  A  short  distance  farther  on  we  ran  across  Rankin,  a  private  in  my  own 


"LYING   ON    THE    GROUND   WITH    AN    UGLY   WOUND    IN   THE   JAW." 

company,  who  was  lying  on  the  ground  with  an  ugly  wound  in  the  jaw.  A  rebel 
had  first  shot  and  then  tried  to  bayonet  him.  Though  wounded,  the  brave  fellow 
parried  the  thrust  and  with  one  blow  with  the  butt  of  his  rifle  smashed  the  skull  of 
the  rebel  and  killed  him  on  the  spot.  We  took  Rankin  along  with  us.  When  we 
reached  the  place  where  we  hoped  to  find  our  brigade,  we  discovered  that  it  had 
been  forced  to  retreat  and  that  now  we  were  between  two  lines  of  battle  under 
heavy  fire.  We  paused  a  second  or  so  to  decide  what  course  to  pursue,  when  I 
heard  loud  and  agonizing  cries  for  help.  Looking  about  me  I  saw  Colonel  Eldridge 
G.  Floyd,  of  the  Third  New  York,  shot  through  both  legs,  utterly  unable  to  move. 


—  344  — 

The  colonel  complained  bitterly  that  his  men  should  leave  and  desert  him  in  that 
predicament.  I  lifted  him  on  my  back  and  carried  him  to  the  field  hospital  about 
half  a  mile  away.  This  place  soon  got  within  range  of  the  rebel  rifles  and  caught 
fire.  I  quickly  got  a  stretcher  and  with  the  help  of  Private  Patrick  Leriahan,  of  my 
company,  carried  the  colonel  out  of  the  blazing  building  over  field  and  fences  to  the 
Richmond  and  Petersburg  Pike,  where  we  halted.  Here  we  had  to  do  some  of  our 
hardest  fighting— not  against  the  rebels — but  with  a  disorganized  mob  of  our  own 
men,  who,  in  their  mad  haste  to  retreat  before  the  advancing  enemy,  came  near 
tramping  the  wounded  colonel  to  death.  After  many  a  hard  struggle  and  more 
than  one  narrow  escape,  we  finally  were  successful  in  carrying  off  our  wounded 
officer,  landing  him  safely  at  the  hospital  some  miles  in  the  rear." 


A  BRAVE  COLONEL  AND  HIS  BRAVE  MARE 


WHILE  part  of  Sheridan's  cavalry  was  being  thrown 
across  the  Greenbriar  River,  Va.,  May  22,  1864, 
Colonel  Henry  Capehart,  of  the  First  West  Virginia 
Cavalry,  performed  a  most  daring  rescue. 

The  enemy's  sharpshooters  were  menacing  the 
passage  of  the  army,  and,  with  a  view  to  dislodging 
these  sharpshooters,  the  command  forded  the  river 
just  above  the  falls. 

Being  an  expert  rider,  and  having  a  mount  well- 
known  in  the  army  for  its  swimming  qualities,  Col 
onel  Capehart,  whenever  a  fording  was  to  be  made, 
invariably  took  up  a  station  some  hundred  yards 
below  the  proposed  crossing,  his  experience  being 
that  on  such  occasions  both  men  and  horses  frequently 
lost  their  heads,  thus  causing  the  loss  of  life,  and  on 
more  than  one  occasion  his  foresight  in  taking  up 
this  position  enabled  him  to  help  many  an  unlucky 
rider. 

A  few  moments  after  a  platoon  of  Troop  B  had 
entered  the  water,  one  of  the  men,  Private  Watson 

Karr,  was  swept  out  of  his  saddle  and  down  the  swift  stream.     What  followed  is 
told  by  Colonel  Capehart : 

"When  I  started,  I  did  not  know  that  the  falls  were  so  near,  until  I  saw  Karr 
disappear  over  them.     Being  in  the  swift  current,  in  the  midst  of  a  swollen  river,  I 


HENRY  CAPEHART, 

Colonel.  1st  West  Virginia  Cavalry. 
Highest  rank  attained:    Brigadier-Gen 
eral,  U.S.  V. 
Born  at  Cambria,  Pa.,  Mar.  18, 1825. 


I    REACHED   OUT    AND   GRASPED    HIM.' 


—  346  — 


had  only  to  clutch  my  mare  by  the  mane  with  the  left  hand  and  the  pommel  of  the 
saddle  with  my  right,  when  we  also  took  the  plunge — and  oh,  such  a  dive  !  I  thought 
I  should  never  reach  the  surface  again ;  when  I  did  I  had  only  time  for  a  breath  or 
two  before  the  second  plunge.  Either  this  was  not  so  great  a  fall  as  the  first  or  I 
was  becoming  accustomed  to  deep  diving ;  at  any  rate  I  did  not  mind  it  so  much  as 
the  first. 

"When  I  came  up  the  second  time  I  found  I  was  close  to  Karr  and  also  that 
Minie  balls  were  uncomfortably  numerous.  I  reached  out  and  grasped  him,  drew 
him  across  my  mare's  neck,  and  turned  her  head  towards  the  south  shore.  The 
north  bank  was  quite  near  to  us,  but  so  rocky  and  precipitous,  with  a  heavy  current 
fretting  against  us,  that  I  had  no  alternative  but  to  swim  my  mare  to  the  south  side. 
Fortunately,  I  struck  a  bar  and  drew  my  man  along  until  we  stood  upon  firm  ground, 
where  we  were  a  little  under  cover  from  the  enemy's  fire  and  could  take  a  much 
needed  rest.  After  vomiting  a  great  quantity  of  water  Karr  regained  consciousness. 
When  I  asked  him  some  questions,  however,  he  was  not  able  to  reply  and  could  not 
speak.  After  a  few  minutes  I  remarked :  '  Watty,  you  have  lost  your  hat.'  He 
slapped  his  hands  down  upon  his  trousers.  'Yes,'  he  said,  'and  my  pocketbook,  too.' 
He  had  recovered  his  power  of  speech." 


RESCUED  HIS  LIEUTENANT 


DURING  the  hotly  contested  battle  of  Drewry's 
Bluff,  when  the  Union  troops  were  compelled 
to  fall  back,  a  small  squad  of  Federal  soldiers  - 
fifteen  in  all  —  were  left  on  the  field.  They  were 
members  of  Company  C,  of  the  Twenty-first  Con 
necticut  Infantry,  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Button,  who,  having  no  orders  to  fall  back,  had  no 
choice  but  to  brave  the  situation.  Rapidly,  how 
ever,  their  position  became  more  and  more  unten 
able  ;  the  enemy  was  fast  closing  in  on  the  little 
band  ;  already  several  of  them  had  fallen  under 
the  increasing  murderous  fire  from  the  Confeder 
ates.  Lieutenant  Button  finally  was  forced  to 
order  a  retreat,  but  had  no  sooner  uttered  the  words,  * 

than,  struck  by  a  bullet,  he  sank  to  the  ground.  Sergeant  Robert  A.  Gray  was 
five  rods  away  from  him  when  he  noticed  the  Lieutenant's  absence,  and,  looking  back, 
saw  that  the  officer  was  disabled  and  sure  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who 
were  no  more  than  twenty  rods  away  from  him.  With  a  few  leaps  he  was  by  his  side 
and  found  him  shot  through  the  leg.  He  helped  him  up  and  managed  to  retreat 
with  him.  The  brave  sergeant  assisted  the  wounded  lieutenant  to  a  place  of  com 
parative  safety  and  then  hurried  back  to  his  regiment. 


ROBERT  A.  GRAY, 

Sergeant,  Company  C,  21st  Conn.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  September  21, 1831. 


—  347  — 


RESCUED  COMRADES  FROM  A  STRANDED  TRANSPORT 


GEORGE  W.  BRUSH, 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B,  34th  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Highest  rank  attained :    Captain. 
Born  at  West  Hill,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  4,  1842. 


/"^OLONEL  JAMES  MONTGOMERY,  commanding  the 
^^  Thirty-fourth  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  was  on 
May  24,  1864,  ordered  to  join  an  expedition  under 
General  Hatch  to  make  a  demonstration  at  Ashe- 
poo  River,  S.  C.,  and  to  burn  the  railroad  trestle 
across  the  marsh  at  that  point.  The  troop  steamer 
Boston,  detailed  to  carry  and  land  the  regiment 
at  Mosquito  Inlet,  was  of  too  deep  draft  for  the 
steamboat  wharf  and  so  the  troops  were  ferried 
to  her  in  small  boats.  "  When  about  two-thirds  of 
our  regiment  were  aboard  the  steamer,"  writes  Lieu 
tenant  George  W.  Brush,  "  orders  were  given  to  get 
under  way.  I  fastened  my  small  boat  to  the  stern 
of  the  vessel  and  soon  we  were  steaming  up  stream. 
Mine  was  the  only  small  boat  taken  along,  the 
balance  of  the  regiment  and  all  the  other  small 
boats  being  left  behind  in  the  hurry  to  get  away. 

"  In  the  fog  and  darkness  of  the  night  the  pilot  of  the  Boston  carried  us  about 
five  miles  beyond  Mosquito  Inlet,  and  the  first  thing  we  knew  we  were  hard  aground 
on  an  oyster  bed  and  at  high  tide. 

"  Soon  the  commander  of  a  small  Union  gunboat,  which  we  had  passed  about  a 
mile  belowr,  hailed  us,  and  suggested  to  our  colonel  that  twenty-five  well-armed  men 
be  sent  over  to  his  boat,  where  they  could  do  good  work  as  sharpshooters  to  prevent 
the  Confederates  from  planting  a  battery  and  shelling  us  from  opposite  the  point 
where  we  were  stranded.  He  also  promised  assistance  by  bringing  into  action  his 
heavy  guns. 

"  The  suggestion  met  with  the  approval  of  Colonel  Montgomery  and  I  was  detailed 
with  twenty-five  men  from  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Cavalry  to  board  the  gunboat. 
In  addition,  we  were  joined  by  four  volunteers,  cavalry  regulars,  armed  with  Spencer 
carbines.  Hardly  had  we  proceeded  half  way  to  the  gunboat,  when  the  Confederates 
opened  on  the  stranded  Boston.  The  commander  of  the  gunboat  then  suddenly 
changed  his  mind,  and  said  that  he  did  not  wish  to  take  undue  risks.  As  the  last 
one  of  my  men  clambered  aboard  his  boat,  I  stood  up  in  the  small  craft  and  called 
for  volunteers  to  return  with  me  to  rescue  our  400  companions  on  the  grounded 
transport.  Four  cavalrymen  at  once  answered  my  appeal  and  jumped  into  the  small 
boat  with  me,  each  taking  a  pair  of  oars,  They  were  William  Downey,  John  Duffy, 
David  L.  Gifford  and  Patrick  Scanlan,  all  privates  of  Troop  B,  Fourth  Massachusetts 
Cavalry,  all  soldiers,  brave  and  noble. 


—  348  — 


"  While  pulling  toward  the  Boston,  we  could  see  some  of  the  frightened  soldiers 
jumping  overboard  to  swim  ashore.     As  we  came  alongside  the  transport,  the  colonel 


"BEFORE  WE  LEFT,  WE  SET  FIRE  TO  THE  CRAFT." 

said  to  me :  '  Lieutenant,  everything  now  depends  on  you.  Yours  is  the  only  boat 
we  have.'  I  thought  at  first  that  my  boat  would  be  swamped,  but  the  men  behaved 
well  as  soon  as  they  realized  that  there  was  no  need  of  hurry.  Then  we  began  the 


—  349  — 


work  of  ferrying  our  comrades  from  the  steamer  to  the  south  side  of  the  river,  taking 
about  thirty  men  to  a  load.  Meanwhile  the  enemy  continued  their  firing,  with  our 
boat  as  their  chief  target.  Now  and  then  a  shot  would  kill  a  man  and  several  times 
we  came  near  foundering ;  but  at  last  we  got  them  all  safely  ashore.  Before  we  left 
the  Boston  and  the  large  quantity  of  stores  which  she  carried,  besides  about  eighty 
horses,  we  set  fire  to  the  craft  and  saw  her  burn  to  the  water's  edge." 

Lieutenant  Brush  and  Privates  Downey,  Duffy,  Clifford  and  Scanlan  all  received 
the  Medal  of  Honor. 


CHARGED  TO  THE  MUZZLES  OF  THE  ENEMY'S  GUNS 


PROM  May  4  to  June  4,  1864,  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  had  been  fighting  desperately  from 
the  Rapidan  to  the  Chickahominy,  General  Lee 
moving  on  defensive,  parallel  lines,  falling  back 
from  one  stronghold  to  another.  Assault  after 
assault  upon  the  field-works  of  the  enemy,  by  di 
visions  and  army  corps,  marked  the  line  of  the  Fed 
eral  advance,  while  storming  columns  of  picket 
troops  dashed  themselves  against  the  breastworks 
of  the  Confederate  Army. 

By  a  series  of  strategic  movements,  always  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy,  the  army  had  moved  from 
the  North  Anna  to  a  position  south  of  the  Pamun- 
key  River,  confronting  General  Lee,  with  his  army 
strongly  entrenched  on  the  Chickahominy,  behind 
the  outer  defenses  of  Richmond.  The  field  of  oper 
ations  during  the  last  days  of  May  and  the  first 

days  of  June  covered  an  area  of  country  diversified  by  open  plains,  running  streams, 
deep  ravines,  morass  and  wooded  ridges.  After  crossing  the  Pamunkey  at  Hanover 
Town,  about  twenty  miles  northeast  from  Richmond,  the  line  of  battle  was  formed 
with  the  Sixth  Corps  on  the  right,  the  Second  Corps  in  the  center  and  the  Fifth 
Corps  on  the  left,  with  Sheridan's  cavalry  as  vanguard  and  rear-guard.  The  Ninth 
Corps  was  left  on  the  north  side  of  the  Pamunkey,  to  guard  the  wagon-trains. 

A  successful  assault  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry,  at  Hawe's  Shop  Cross-Roads,  on 
May  28th,  a  few  miles  in  front  of  Hanover  Town,  by  the  cavalry  divisions  of  Gregg 
and  Custer,  was  followed  by  a  reconnoissance  in  force  on  the  following  day,  to 
develop  the  position  of  General  Lee.  The  right  of  the  lines  was  pushed  to  Hanover 
Court  House,  the  center  towards  Totopotomy  Creek,  and  the  left  was  advanced  three 
miles  forward  on  the  Shady  Grove  Road.  On  May  31st,  the  Confederate  cavalry  and 


EDWARD  HILL, 

Captain,  Co.  K,  Kith  Michigan  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained  :    Bvt.  Col.,  r.  S.  V. 


—  350  — 

infantry  at  Cold  Harbor  were  driven  from  their  entrenchments  by  Sheridan's  cavalry 
and  the  position  held  until  re-enforced  by  the  arrival  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  which  at 
midnight  was  moved  from  its  position  on  the  right  six  miles  southeast  from  Hanover 
Court  House,  to  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  near  Cold  Harbor. 

This  apparent  concentration  of  forces  at  Cold  Harbor  was  detected  by  General 
Lee  at  daylight  and  General  R.  H.  Anderson's  Corps  was  moved  from  the  left  to  the 
right  of  the  Confederate  line.  As  Anderson's  troops,  in  the  gray  light  of  the  dawn, 
were  seen  passing  in  front  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  on  the  Federal  center,  General  War 
ren  was  ordered  to  attack  the  marching  columns  in  flank.  The  skirmish  line  of 
Bartlett's  Third  Brigade,  under  Captain  Edward  Hill,  Sixteenth  Michigan,  which 
had  been  on  picket  duty  through  the  night,  occupying  an  advanced  position  on  the 
left  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  nearest  the  enemy,  charged  swiftly  and  steadily  through  the 
intervening  timber  and  underbrush,  up  the  slope  to  the  enemy's  works.  As  the  line 
reached  and  carried  the  rifle  pits,  a  destructive  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  opened 
on  front  and  flank,  but  the  line  pressed  unfalteringly  on,  driving  the  enemy  over 
their  line  of  entrenchments. 

This  spirited  reconnoissance  of  the  skirmish  line  having  developed  the  presence 
of  the  enemy  in  force  behind  his  works,  the  attack  was  not  pressed,  but  the  regi 
ments  of  the  brigade  that  had  advanced  in  close  support  of  the  skirmish  line  held 
throughout  the  day,  against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy,  the  ground  so  gal 
lantly  captured  by  Captain  Hill's  line,  which  was  composed  of  gallant  men  detailed 
from  each  regiment  of  the  brigade.  During  this  charge  Captain  Hill  was  severely 
wounded,  but  he  remained  with  his  men  until  they  fell  back  in  the  evening. 


TUNNELED  HIS  WAY  TO  A  WOUNDED  OFFICER 


'"Two  HUNDRED  and  seventy  Union  soldiers  charged  a  Confederate  force  of  15,000 
men !  It  was  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  1864  Thirteen  thou 
sand  brave  Union  lives  were  sacrificed  on  that  bloody  battlefield. 

No  fiercer  struggle  was  there  during  the  entire  war,  no  more  heroic  deed  than 
that  desperate  charge. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  battle  a  description  from  the  pen  of  a  Confederate  officer 
is  submitted  in  the  following.  It  is  the  enemy  who  says : 

"It  was  daylight.  I  had  just  finished  a  cup  of  coffee  and  was  lighting  my  pipe 
when  someone  shouted  :  '  Look  !  Look  at  our  pickets ! ' 

"  Our  picket  line  was  running  toward  us  in  wild  confusion.  I  was  completely 
taken  by  surprise.  Not  a  gun  had  been  fired ;  no  enemy  was  in  sight.  A  few 
seconds  later  I  realized  what  was  going  on.  The  Federals  were  approaching.  In 
five  lines  of  battle  they  emerged  from  the  woods  at  double-quick.  Then  the  battle 
began.  The  Georgia  and  Alabama  brigades  opened  with  musketry  and  artillery. 


—  351  — 


The  Federal  first  line  wavered  back  upon 
the  second  and  both  pressed  back  the  third 
line.  Finally  all  five  lines  were  in  disorder. 
The  Union  men  retreated  to  the  woods.  A 
second  time  they  advanced.  They  had  no 
caps  on  their  guns  and  were  unable  to  fire 
a  single  shot.  On  the  other  hand  our 
artillery  fired  double-shotted  canister  from 
two  rifled  guns  at  a  distance  of  a  hundred 
yards  and  was  decimating  the  Federals  as 
they  advanced  at  an  awful  rate,  mowing 
them  down  by  the  dozens.  At  every  dis 
charge  of  our  guns,  heads,  arms,  legs,  guns 
were  seen  flying  high  in  the  air.  But  we 
were  opposing  a  determined  and  gallant 
foe.  They  closed  the  gaps  in  their  lines  as 
fast  as  we  made  them,  and  on  they  came, 
their  lines  swaying  like  great  waves  of  the 
sea.  Thus  one  upheaval  from  the  rear 
would  follow  another  and  hurry  nearer  and 

nearer  to  the  murderous  fire  from  our  works.  So  terrible  was  the  slaughter  of  the 
brave  Union  cohorts  that  at  some  points  their  dead  and  wounded  were  piled  upon 
each  other  five  or  six  feet  high — their  blood  literally  drenched  the  field.  For  fully 
an  hour  and  a  half  the  Federals  charged  again  and  again — only  to  meet  the  same 
fate.  Never  before  did  I  see  such  invincible  resolution.  Finally  the  Federals  passed 
out  of  sight  and  we  prepared  for  the  next  assault. 

"  Twenty  minutes  later  it  was  reported  that  the  battle  was  to  be  renewed.  Look 
ing  out  over  the  works  I  saw  what  I  believed  to  be  one  regiment  with  a  single  flag 
and  a  single  officer  with  drawn  sword  in  the  lead  calling  on  his  men  to  follow  him. 

"  It  was  the  Twenty-fifth  Massachusetts — the  only  regiment  which  obeyed  the 
order  to  return  to  that  bloody  field.  And,  as  I  subsequently  learned,  there  were 
but  two  hundred  and  seventy  men  in  that  regiment  at  that.  Not  since  the  famous 
charge  of  the  six  hundred  at  Balaklava  has  a  more  heroic  act  been  performed. 


ORLANDO  P.  BOSS, 

Corporal,  Co.  F,  25th  Massachusetts  Infantry. 
Born  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  July  30, 1844. 


Cold  Harbor,  Va. — After  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania,  General  Grant  placed  his  army  across 
the  Pamunkey  River  and  moved  to  Hanover  Town.  On  the  first  day  of  June,  1864,  he  began  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  a  contest  which  he  afterward  acknowledged  to  be  a  mistake. 

Lee's  forces  were  strongly  posted  at  Cold  Harbor  and  the  Federals  were  repulsed.  On  the  3d,  Grant 
renewed  the  attack  and  was  again  repulsed,  losing  nearly  13,000  men.  In  all  of  the  engagements  at  and 
around  this  point  from  June  1st  to  the  12th,  the  Union  forces  suffered  a  loss  of  over  14,000  men,  while  the 
Confederate  loss  was  about  1,700. 

Thereupon  Grant  quickly  changed  his  base  to  the  James  River  with  a  view  to  the  capture  of  Peters 
burg  and  the  conquest  of  Richmond  from  the  southeast. 


—  352 


"With  this  eulogy  of  the  glorious  conduct  of  the  regiment  from  the  Old  Bay 
State  in  mind,  the  writer  is  now  acquainted  with  an  incident  which  occurred  during 
the  battle  and  centers  around  a  member  of  the  same  regimental  organization. 

"It  was  after  the  bloody  repulse  of  one  of  the  attacks.     The  brigade  had  fallen 
back  to  a  line  of  earthworks  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  enemy's  position. 


Presently  a 
bullet  whiz 
zed  through  the 
air  and  struck 
Lieutenant  Daly, 
of  the  Twenty-fifth 
Massachusetts,  squarely  in 
the  breast.  He  fell,  mortally  wounded, 
to  the  ground  about  fifteen  yards  in 
front  of  the  Union  lines.  Half  way 
between  the  lines  was  a  rifle  pit,  where  Corporal  Orlando  P.  Boss  and  Privates 
Aldrich  and  Battles  had  taken  up  a  position. 

"  The  former  saw  the  lieutenant  fall  and  heard  his  piteous  cries  for  water.  Un 
mindful  of  the  terrific  hail  of  bullets,  Corporal  Boss  crawled  out  of  his  hole  and 
approached  the  wounded  officer  near  enough  to  be  able  to  throw  him  his  well-filled 
canteen.  Returning  to  the  pit  he  found  that  Aldrich  had  been  wounded  during  his 


"THEY    USED   JHEIR   SPOONS.1 


—  353  — 

brief  absence.  To  remain  longer  in  the  entrenchment  was  almost  inevitable  death  ; 
the  plucky  corporal  therefore  resolved  to  attempt  to  get  over  the  breastworks. 

" '  Don't  leave  us  here,  if  you  go/  the  wounded  soldier  moaned.  It  had  never 
entered  Boss'  mind  to  desert  his  comrade  in  the  hour  of  peril.  Yet  the  poor  fellow 
was  so  weak  from  loss  of  blood  that  he  could  not  have  walked  a  dozen  paces 
unassisted. 

"Boss  quietly  took  his  wounded  comrade  upon  his  back  and  with  his  heavy 
and  precious  burden  staggered  through  the  shower  of  bullets  in  front  of  three  Con 
federate  lines  of  battle  toward  the  breastworks.  Miraculous  as  it  may  seem,  Boss 
accomplished  his  noble  task  and  carried  the  wounded  soldier  off  the  field  in  safety. 
Boss  now  determined  upon  the  rescue  of  another  life — that  of  the  wounded  officer. 
The  permission  to  carry  out  the  attempt  was  readily  granted  by  General  Stannard 
and  several  men  of  the  regiment  volunteered  to  assist.  It  was  impossible  to  bring 
the  dying  officer  over  the  breastworks  with  any  assurance  of  success,  and  it  was 
therefore  decided  to  first  carry  Lieutenant  Daly  to  the  rifle  pit  and  thence  to  the 
Union  lines  through  a  tunnel  dug  through  the  works.  Accordingly,  four  men  were 
at  once  sent  to  work  to  do  the  digging,  while  Boss  and  Private  William  D.  Blanchard 
started  on  their  extremely  hazardous  mission  of  mercy.  They  crawled  over  the 
works  and  in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire  made  a  rush  and  a  dash  for  the  rifle  pit. 
From  here  they  dug  a  trench  to  the  place  where  the  officer  lay,  a  distance,  as  stated 
before,  of  about  fifteen  yards.  Having  no  other  tools  at  their  disposal  they  used 
their  spoons  and  worked  for  four  long  and  weary  hours  before  they  had  their  arduous 
task  completed.  The  rebels  could  not  fail  to  divine  the  object  of  their  work  and 
hurled  countless  shots  and  missiles  at  heroic  Boss  and  his  no  less  heroic  companion. 
But  a  kind  providence  guarded  their  lives  and  crowned  their  efforts  with  success. 
The  lieutenant  was  safely  reached  and  carried  back  to  the  rifle  pit  on  a  rubber 
blanket.  They  then  again  called  their  spoons  into  service  and  excavated  till  they 
met  those  who  were  tunneling  from  the  inside  of  the  works.  In  this  manner  Lieu 
tenant  Daly  was  brought  to  the  Union  lines.  The  heroic  deed  was  performed,  but 
the  officer  for  whom  Boss  and  Blanchard  had  braved  death  succumbed  to  his 
injuries  shortly  afterward." 


—  354  — 


RESCUED  THE  COLONEL'S  BODY 


I  CANNOT  order  any  man  to  such  service.     Is  there  any 


LEROY  WILLIAMS, 

Sergeant,  Battery  G,8th  New  York  H.  A. 
Born  at  Owego,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  1M,  isu. 


one  in  your  company  who  will  volunteer  to  make 
the  search  ?  "  asked  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bates. 

It  had  been  a  terrible  day  at  Cold  Harbor  on  the  2d 
of  June,  1864,  and  to  none  more  so  than  to  the  Eighth 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery.  Across  a  perfectly  open 
field  they  charged  through  grape  and  canister,  Colonel 
Porter  leading  on  foot.  In  thirty  minutes  over  500  men 
were  lost.  In  a  final  effort  Colonel  Porter  fell  almost 
under  the  enemy's  guns.  The  attack  was  repulsed. 

It  was  in  discussing  how  to  find  and  rescue  the  body 
of  the  gallant  colonel  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bates 

called  for  a  volunteer  to  make  the  search.     Sergeant  LeRoy  Williams,  of  Battery  G, 
Eighth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  stepped  forward. 

The  orders  were:  "Go  to  the  outposts,  sweep  the  enemy's  front  with  a  field- 
glass, -and  locate  Colonel  Porter's  body  if  possible." 

Easily  ordered.  It  was  a  perfectly  clear  day,  the  field  open,  and  sharpshooters 
on  all  sides.  However,  fortune  favored  the  scout.  Though  shot  at  fifteen  or  twenty 
times,  he  completed  his  errand  without  a  scratch. 

Meanwhile  volunteers  were  called  for  to  rescue  the  body.  When  Williams  re 
turned  and  reported,  Colonel  Bates  asked  him:  "Would  you  just  as  soon  pilot  a 
detail  to  the  body  ? " 

"Certainly." 

"  How  many  men  will  you  need  ? " 

"The  smallest  number  possible  ;  four  are  sufficient." 

"Well,  Sergeant,  there  is  your  detail ;  take  a  stretcher  and  bring  in  the  body  of 
Colonel  Porter  at  all  hazards." 

"  I  took  the  first  four  men  from  the  right  of  the  detail,"  says  Sergeant  Williams, 
"  much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  rest  of  the  volunteers.  They  were  Galen  S. 
Hicks,  John  Duff,  Walter  Harwood  and  Samuel  Traviss. 

"In  passing  the  extreme  outpost  in  the  night,  a  corporal  reported  an  officer's 
body  directly  in  front,  but  very  close  to  the  enemy's  line. 

" '  Why,  it's  worth  a  man's  life  to  go  out  there,'  he  exclaimed. 

"  '  That  is  the  body  of  our  colonel  and  we  must  get  it,'  was  our  answer.  '  Keep 
watch  for  us  as  best  you  can,  and  if  the  ball  does  open,  give  us  a  little  chance  to  get 
in.' 

"  Falling  flat  on  my  stomach,  I  worked  my  way  to  the  body.  We  were  right ;  it 
was  the  body  of  the  colonel.  Traviss  soon  followed.  Unable  to  move  the  body 


—  355  — 

without  attracting  attention,  I  sent  him  back  for  a  rope,  while  I  remained  with  the 
body  to  prevent  its  being  rifled.  During  the  hour  or  more  I  lay  there  I  saw  an 
officer  of  the  enemy  taking  observations.  He  was  so  close  I  could  hear  the  rattle  of 
his  side  arms  at  every  move.  Finally  the  rope  came.  Traviss  fastened  it  to  the 
feet  of  the  body,  and  creeping  away  stealthily,  we  gradually  drew  the  body  to  the 
vidette  post." 


BRAVE  AND  DEVOTED  TO  HIS  COMRADES 


(te^fp       ^^  A  FTEE  the  three  days'  fight  at  Cold  Harbor,  Com- 

"~~~~— -^">^S*^^ •'"*  /      V  _     • A       .     _  J     TT      _   l«      1  1      _       r\  1 J J      ,    .-  3       £«-. 


panics  A  and  H  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 


EUGENE  M.  TINKHAM, 

Sergeant,  Co.  H,  148th  N.  Y.  Vol.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Sprague,  Conn. 


eighth  New  York  Infantry,  were  detailed  as  skirm 
ishers  preceding  a  charge  by  the  brigade.  Sergeant 
Eugene  M.  Tinkham,  who  was  with  his  company  in  the 
skirmish  line,  says  that  "the  brigade  advanced  through 
the  woods  and  charged  steadily  and  bravely  across  the 
open  field,  but  the  odds,  both  as  to  men  and  position, 
were  too  great,  and  back  over  the  field,  which  was 
strewn  thickly  with  dead  and  wounded,  we  were 
forced  to  retreat  into  the  woods  from  which  shortly 
before  we  had  emerged  full  of  hope  for  victory."- 
The  sergeant  continues : 

"Knowing  that  many  of  our  boys  were  on  the 
field  in  a  helpless  condition,  I  asked  and  received  per 
mission  to  attempt  to  bring  some  of  them  back  to  our 

lines.  By  crouching  and  crawling  on  hands  and  knees  I  reached  the  side  of  Andrew 
Grainer,  who  lay  upon  the  battlefield  with  a  shattered  ankle.  Rolling  him  on  a 
rubber  blanket,  I  succeeded  in  hauling  him  back  to  his  comrades.  Then  I  made  a 
second  trip  and  found  John  Bortle  who  was  in  a  critical  condition  and  utterly  help 
less  from  a  shot  in  the  head,  arms,  hip  and  leg.  He  was  a  heavy  man,  and  after 
getting  him  on  a  rubber  blanket,  I  was  forced  to  adopt  a  method  of  my  own  to  drag 
him  along.  Accordingly  I  sat  down  as  far  from  the  blanket  as  I  could  reach  and 
dug  holes  for  my  heels  to  get  a  brace  to  work  against.  Then  reaching  forward  I  pulled 
at  the  corners  of  the  blanket  and  dragged  the  wounded  man  to  me.  This  process 
I  repeated  until  at  last  I  reached  the  woods  where  the  stretcher  bearers  were. 
Both  wounded  men  belonged  to  my  company.  They  died  three  days  later  at  the 
hospital." 


—  356  — 


A  REBEL  GENERAL  THE  MUSICIAN'S  PRISONER 


JAMES  SNEDDEN, 

Principal  Musician,  54th  Pa.  Infantry. 

Born  at  Edinburgh,  Scotland, 

Sept.  19.  1844. 


T  N  recounting  his  experience  at  the  battle  of  Piedmont, 
Va.,  Musician  James  Snedden,   of   the  Fifty-fourth 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  says : 

"On  the  5th  of  June,  1864,  after  reveille  and  a  hastily 
cooked  breakfast,  we  were  ordered  forward  on  the  march, 
which  soon  brought  us  within  hearing  of  the  enemy's  fir 
ing,  whereupon  our  lines  were  hastily  formed  and  skir 
mishers  advanced.  During  the  formation  of  our  line  of 
battle  we  were  subjected  to  a  terrific  fire  from  a  Con 
federate  battery  of  six  twelve-pound  guns,  but  on  we 
went  until  our  skirmish  line  reached  a  protected  posi 
tion,  where  we  were  ordered  to  lie  down. 

"  I  was  principal  musician  of  the  regiment,  and  our 
colonel  ordered  me  to  take  my  musicians  to  the  rear 
and  if  possible  keep  the  command  in  view,  in  order  to 
join  them  after  the  battle.  As  he  spoke  to  me  we  both 

observed  one  of  our  men  on  the  skirmish  line,  as  he  fell,  wounded,  and  I  at  once 
offered  to  take  his  gun  and  go  on  the  line.  The  colonel  assented  and  immediately 
thereafter  I  was  in  the  ranks  with  my  old  company. 

"In  a  few  minutes  the  whole  line  was  charging  the  Confederate  defenses,  which 
were  constructed  of  rails  and  fallen  trees,  and  here  both  armies  received  their  great 
est  losses.  The  two  lines  of  battle  were  not  more  than  seventy-five  yards  apart, 
each  pouring  lead  into  the  other  with  good  effect. 

"It  was  during  this  struggle  that  the  Confederate  general,  William  Jones,  was 
killed,  and  the  loss  of  their  gallant  leader  caused  the  Confederate  line  to  waver  and 
then  break.  Thus  far  we  had  fought  for  every  inch  we  traversed,  but  with  the  break 
in  their  lines  came  renewed  energy  to  our  charge.  Over  the  works  we  went,  and  in 
a  hand-to-hand  fight  drove  the  rebels  slowly  back,  maintaining  their  line  formation 
until  they  reached  Middle  River,  where  we  took  1,500  prisoners. 

"  On  the  banks  of  the  river  I  encountered  a  Confederate  brigadier-general  and 
demanded  his  surrender,  whereupon  he  reluctantly  handed  me  his  sword  and  two 
revolvers.  I  then  inarched  my  prisoner  to  the  rear  and  reported  to  the  brigade 
commander  to  whom  I  turned  over  the  general  and  his  sword." 


Piedmont,  Ya. — General  Sigel,  commanding  one  of  the  two  columns  into  which  the  army  in  the  Shen- 
andoah  Valley  was  divided,  advanced  up  the  valley  as  far  as  Newmarket,  where,  after  a  fierce  engagement, 
he  was  relieved  of  his  command  by  General  Hunter,  who  immediately  took  up  the  offensive.  On  the  5th  of 
June  Hunter  encountered  the  Confederates  at  Piedmont,  where  he  captured  1,500  prisoners  and  three 
pieces  of  artillery.  After  this  battle  he  formed  a  junction  with  Crook  and  Averell  at  Staunton,  from  which 
place  they  moved  toward  Lynchburg  by  way  of  Lexington. 


—  357  — 


COURAGE,  ENERGY  AND 
MILITARY  ABILITY 


JULIUS  STAHEL, 

Major-General,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 
Born  in  Hungary. 


N  the  fifth  day  of  June,  1864,  at  daybreak 

and  shortly  after  General  Hunter's  Army 
commenced   to    move    on    Staunton,    Va.,   the 
advance  force  of  his  cavalry  was  attacked  by  the 
enemy  and  driven  in.     General  Hunter  was  march 
ing  at  the  head  of  his  army,  and  immediately  ordered 
General   Julius  Stahel,    who  was   near  him,  to   at 
tack  the  enemy  with  his  cavalry  and  to  check  their 
advance.     General  Stahel  charged  the  approaching  enemy 
and  broke  and  drove  them  about  two  miles,  where,  meeting 
a  stronger  force,  he  charged  the  enemy's  line  again  with 
the  same  results  as  before  and  pursued  them  as  far  as 
Piedmont,  where  he  found  the  enemy  in  great  force,  ad 
vantageously  posted  in  a  wood  behind  a  line  of  defenses 
constructed  of  fallen  timber  and  fence-rails.     Having  no 
infantry,  General  Stahel  did  not  attempt  to  attack  them  in 

so  strong  a  position,  but  kept  them  there  with  his  cavalry  until  the  arrival  of  Gen 
eral  Hunter  with  his  force.  The  latter  at  once  attacked  the  enemy's  stronghold, 
and  ordered  General  Stahel,  whose  cavalry  was  somewhat  exhausted,  to  form  the 
reserve. 

The  battle  raged  furiously  for  some  time,  each  side  holding  its  position,  until 
Hunter  ordered  a  general  advance  all  along  the  line  and  directed  General  Stahel  to 
dismount  that  part  of  the  cavalry  which  was  armed  with  Spencer  rifles  —  seven- 
shooters —  and  support  the  right  wing.  In  compliance  with  this  order,  General 
Stahel  rapidly  moved  with  his  dismounted  force  to  the  extreme  right,  attacked  the 
enemy's  entrenched  position  in  the  wood  and  dislodged  them.  During  his  charge 
General  Stahel  was  badly  wounded  ;  but,  wishing  to  follow  up  his  success,  he  had  his 
wound  quickly  dressed  to  stop  bleeding.  As  he  was  very  weak  and  had  the  use 
of  but  one  arm  he  was  helped  on  his  horse  and,  with  a  portion  of  his  cavalry, 
which  was  in  readiness,  made  a  quick  detour  at  the  head  of  his  column,  charging 
the  enemy  on  the  flank  and  turning  it.  Just  at  that  time  General  Hunter  with  his 
infantry  attacked  the  whole  line  with  great  impetus,  and  Colonel  Wyncoop  with  the 
balance  of  the  cavalry  charged  on  the  right  flank.  The  enemy  was  now  com 
pletely  demoralized  and  fled  in  great  confusion,  leaving  over  1,000  prisoners, 
including  a  large  number  of  officers.  General  W.  E.  Jones,  the  commander  of  the 
enemy's  force,  was  killed  and  his  body  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops.  Gen 
eral  Hunter  pursued  the  enemy  until  night  set  in,  capturing  many  more  prisoners, 
and  the  next  morning  occupied  Staunton. 


"  HE  WAS  HELPED  ON  HIS  HORSE." 


—  359— 

The  Confederate  loss  in  this  battle  was  estimated  at  nearly  3,000.  General  Hun 
ter  lost  less  than  800  men. 

General  Stand's  courage  was  highly  commended  by  his  superiors  and  the  vic 
tories  largely  accredited  to  his  gallantry,  energy  and  military  qualities.  General 
Hunter  in  his  report  of  June  9,  1864,  to  General  Halleck,  wrote:  "It  is  but  justice 
to  Major-General  Stahel  to  state  that  in  the  recent  engagement  he  displayed  ex 
cellent  qualities  of  coolness  and  gallantry,  and  that  for  the  final  happy  result  the 
country  is  much  indebted  to  his  services." 


A  RIDE  TO   ALMOST   CERTAIN 
DEATH 


E.  W.  WHITAKER, 

Captain,  Co.  E,  First  Connecticut  Cavalry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Bvt.  Brig-Gen.  U.  S.  V. 

Born  at  Killingly,  Conn.,  June  15, 1841. 


A  FTER  its  raid  against  the  Danville  and  South- 
^*  side  Railway,  the  Third  Cavalry  Division, 
commanded  by  General  James  H.  Wilson,  on  its 
return  march  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
in  front  of  Petersburg,  found  a  large  force  of 
rebel  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery  in  position, 
barring  its  passage  at  Ream's  Station,  Va.,  within 
five  miles  of  army  headquarters. 

Captain  E.  W.  Whitaker,  who  was  serving  on 
General  Wilson's  staff,  took  in  the  whole  position 
at  a  glance.  Perceiving  that  it  would  be  imprac 
ticable  for  this  column,  jaded  and  almost  worn 
out  by  a  week's  incessant  marching,  working  and 
fighting,  to  force  its  way  farther  without  assist 
ance,  he  volunteered  to  take  a  squadron  and  charge  through  the  rebel  line  and  inform 
General  Meade  of  the  division's  perilous  straits  and  that  help  must  be  sent  at  once. 

General  Wilson  accepted  Captain  Whitaker's  offer  and  directed  him  to  proceed 
immediately  on  his  desperate  mission.  He  was  entirely  ignorant  of  what  had  be 
come  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  or  where  he  should  find  it,  or  what  perils  he 
would  encounter  on  the  way.  It  looked  as  though  he  were  starting  on  a  ride  to 
certain  death. 

Selecting  Lieutenant  Ford  and  forty  troopers  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry, 
he  explained  to  them  the  hazardous  character  of  the  undertaking,  and  instructed 
them  that  whoever  should  survive  should  make  his  way  as  rapidly  as  possible  to 
army  headquarters  and  describe  the  position  of  the  cavalry  column  he  had  left 
behind. 


—  360  — 


Not  a  man  faltered,  but  the  entire  detachment  dashed  forward  after  their  gal 
lant  leader,  who,  bearing  to  his  left  and  striking  the  rebel  right,  broke  through  theii 
line  like  a  tornado,  and  galloped  on  to  headquarters,  where  he  arrived  at  an  early 
hour  of  morning  with  only  eighteen  of  his  gallant  cavalrymen.  They  had  cut 
through  the  enemy's  line  which  one  of  General  Wilson's  officers,  after  reconnoiter- 
ing,  had  reported  as  "strong  as  a  stone  wall." 

Captain  Whitaker  gave  the  necessary  information  and  at  once  volunteered  to 
guide  the  Sixth  Corps  to  the  rescue,  but  its  movements  were  so  dilatory  that  it  did 
not  arrive  until  long  after  the  cavalry  column,  despairing  of  help,  had  made  a  great 
detour  by  which  it  eluded  the  enemy,  extricated  itself  and  rejoined  the  army  several 
days  later. 

Captain  Whitaker  was  highly  commended  by  General  Wilson,  immediately  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  major,  and  received  the  Medal  of  Honor  for  his  services  in  this 
notable  charge. 

A  SUCCESSFUL  ROUND-UP 


kN  the  15th  of  June,  1864,  at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  a  large  portion  of  Johnston's  Army 
was  in  a  well-defended  position  a  few  miles  north  of 
Marietta,  Ga.  The  Forty-sixth  Ohio  had  been  ordered 
to  make  an  assault  on  the  works,  supported  by  troops 
from  General  Morgan  Smith's-  command,  while  troops  of 
General  Logan's  command  were  to  make  a  feint  to  the 
left  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  and  draw  his 
fire. 

"  The  carrying  out  of  the  plan  was  according  to  or 
ders,"  says  Private  James  K.  Sturgeon,  "and  at  the  outset 
the  Forty-sixth  Ohio  made  a  charge  over  a  hummocky 
field.  The  breastworks  were  ably  defended  and  during 
our  short  plunge  we  were  under  heavy  fire,  but  we  were 
not  to  be  stopped  and  up  over  the  works  we  went.  At 
once  there  was  a  scattering.  Some  of  the  Confederates 

surrendered  immediately,  while  others,  running  to  the  rear,  concealed  themselves  in 
the  tall  grass  and  underbrush  of  a  ravine  which  they  entered.  Fortunately  for  us 
most  of  the  Southerners  threw  away  their  guns  in  their  flight.  While  our  regi 
ment  was  busy  securing  the  captives,  three  of  my  comrades  and  I  went  out  beyond 
the  works  and  followed  the  fleeing  Confederates.  We  picked  up  the  frightened 
Johnnies  everywhere,  from  behind  stumps  and  logs,  in  the  grass  and  in  the  bush. 
We  continued  this  work  until  we  had  rounded  up  some  thirty  odd  prisoners,  when 
we  marched  them  back  to  our  lines." 


JAMES  K.  STURGEON, 

Private,  Co.  F,  46th  Ohio  Infantry. 
Born  in  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  5, 1846. 


—  361  — 


UNDER  SPECIAL  PROTECTION  OF  PROVIDENCE 


JOSEPH  0.  GREGG, 

Private,  Co.  F,  133d  Ohio  Vol.  Infantry, 
Born  in  Circleville,  O.,  Jan.  5, 1841. 


the  morning  of  June  16,  1864,  while  General 
Grant  was  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the 
James  River,  and  General  Lee  was  endeavoring  to 
reach  Petersburg  before  Grant  could  occupy  it  in 
force,  the  First  Division  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  com 
manded  by  General  Robert  S.  Foster,  was  pushed  out 
to  destroy  as  much  as  possible  of  the  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  Railway,  and  delay  the  Confederate  ad 
vance  led  by  General  Pickett's  Division,  until  Grant 
could  complete  his  crossing,  and  again  get  his  army 
together. 

The  One  hundred  and  thirty-third  Ohio,  which 
formed  part  of  the  division,  was  placed  in  support  of 
a  battery  which  fired  over  the  men  as  they  lay  in  a 
rifle  pit  lately  occupied  by  the  enemy,  the  division 
holding  it  against  repeated  assaults  by  Pickett's  forces 

until  about  3  o'clock  P.  M.  Heavy  re-enforcements  enabled  the  enemy  to  turn  the 
position  of  the  Union  forces,  who  were  forced  to  fall  back  across  the  open,  level 
field  about  one-half  mile  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where  they  formed  a  new  line  of 
defense.  The  enemy  followed  in  close  pursuit,  and  their  skirmishers  occupied  the 
abandoned  works,  while  their  main  body  began  to  form  in  their  immediate  rear  for 
another  assault  upon  the  Union  lines. 

It  was  then  reported  that  Companies  B,  K  and  G,  of  the  Ohio  regiment,  had  not 
returned  with  the  main  body,  and  were  probably  in  imminent  danger  of  capture  by 
the  advancing  foe.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the  companies  mentioned  had  re 
treated  by  a  different  route  and  were  safely  posted  in  another  place  in  the  new  line. 
Colonel  Joshua  B.  Howell,  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Pennsylvania,  commanding  the 
brigade,  directed  Colonel  G.  S.  Innis,  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-third  Ohio,  to 
procure  a  volunteer  to  go  back  in  the  direction  of  the  abandoned  position,  make  a 
search  for  the  missing  men,  and  order  them  in.  He  insisted  that  the  messenger 
make  haste,  as  another  assault  was  imminent. 

Private  Joseph  0.  Gregg  of  Company  F,  offered  to  go.  The  subsequent  events 
are  narrated  by  Adjutant  Alanson  N.  Bull,  who  issued  the  call  for  the  volunteer : 

"Gregg  had  been  quite  ill  the  night  before.  The  surgeon  had  ordered  him  to 
remain  in  his  quarters,  but  when  he  learned  that  we  had  been  ordered  out  to  a  pos 
sible  fight  he  disregarded  the  surgeon's  orders  and  took  his  place  in  the  ranks. 

"I  hesitated  about  accepting  his  volunteer  service,  as  he  looked  frail ;  but  the  ex 
igency  of  the  case  required  quick  action  and  I  directed  him  to  discard  everything 
which  might  impede  his  movements,  and  without  delay  go  out  in  the  direction  of 
the  abandoned  breastworks  a  short  distance  and  look  for  our  missing  men. 


—  362  — 

"  Through  a  misunderstanding  of  my  instructions  Gregg  walked  directly  across 
the  field  in  full  view  of  the  Confederate  lines,  climbed  upon  the  crest  of  the  breast 
works,  then  partly  occupied  by  the  foe,  and  stood  looking  about  him  as  coolly  as 
if  the  battle  lines  of  the  enemy  did  not  exist  at  all.  He  apparently  paid  no  heed  to 
the  rapidly  advancing  foe,  whose  skirmishers  were  already  in  part  of  the  works 
upon  which  he  was  standing.  Our  anxiety  for  the  missing  companies  and  the  im 
minently  perilous  mission  of  Gregg  caused  Colonels  Howell  and  Tnnis  and  myself 
to  closely  watch  his  movements  through  our  field  glasses. 


hW.v-^-. 

L 


''OTHERS  WERE  FIRING  AT  CLOSE  RANGE." 


"  We  saw  him  mount  the  breastworks,  look  about  him  for  a  moment,  then  run 
along  the  crest  about  100  feet  to  the  left  and  suddenly  spring  from  the  embank 
ment  over  which  a  large  number  of  men  in  gray  could  be  seen  leaping  in  an  effort  to 
head  off  his  retreat,  while  many  others  were  firing  at  close  range  at  their  active 
young  foeman,  who,  dodging  with  zig-zag  rushes  to  avoid  the  blows  aimed  at  his  head, 
quickly  gained  the  lead  and  successfully  made  his  escape  to  our  lines,  all  the  while 
under  a  concentrated  fire,  several  balls  having  passed  through  his  cap  and  clothing, 
but  without  injury  to  his  person  other  than  a  few  bruises. 

"  We  considered  it  a  truly  remarkable  exhibition  of  daring.  Alone,  surrounded 
by  hundreds  of  Pickett's  best  marksmen,  surprised  by  finding  himself  in  the  midst 


—  863  — 


of  enemies  instead  of  friends,  and  ordered  to  surrender,  Gregg's  quick  decision  and 
prompt,  bold  action,  together  with  his  skill  in  keeping  a  portion  of  his  pursuers  be 
tween  himself  and  their  marksmen,  alone  enabled  him  to  escape  with  life  and  limb, 
when  to  us  who  were  watching  his  struggle  there  did  not  seem  to  be  a  chance  in 
his  favor. 

"We  rode  out  to  meet  Gregg  as  he  reached  our  line,  and  he  reported  to  us  that 
he  had  seen  men  behind  the  breastworks  and  imagined  them  to  be  the  companies  he 
had  been  sent  after.  He  had  also  observed  the  rapidly  approaching  battle  lines  of 
the  enemy,  and,  fearing  they  would  reach  the  men  first  and  capture  them  before 
he  could  warn  them  of  their  danger,  had  run  along  the  crest  of  the  embankment 
and  ordered  them  to  fall  back  to  the  woods,  as  we  were  retreating,  only  discover 
ing  his  mistake  when  a  voice  called  to  him :  '  Surrender,  you  Yankee ! '  He 
found  himself  surrounded  and  being  fired  at  so  closely  that  the  powder  almost 
burned  his  face  as  he  leaped  from  the  embankment,  dodging  others  who  were  strik 
ing  at  him,  and  fighting  himself  clear  of  the  crowd  of  pursuers,  until  he  reached 
our  lines.  After  hearing  his  report  the  colonel  commanding  said  to  him :  '  That 
was  bravely  done  ;  you  must  have  been  under  special  protection  of  Providence.' 

"  The  enemy  assaulted  us  a  few  minutes  later,  partly  breaking  our  line,  but  were 
driven  back  after  a  sharp  fight." 


THREE  EXAMPLES  OF  SOLDIERLY  DEVOTION 


O  ERGEANT  JOHN  BROSNAN  was  in  command  of  Company  E, 
^  One  hundred  and  sixty-fourth  New  York  Infantry,  at 
the  battle  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  16,  1864,  because  so 
many  of  his  superior  officers  had  been  either  killed  or 
wounded.  The  struggle  was  desperate  and,  after  repeated 
charges,  the  Federal  line  began  to  waver. 

Sergeant  Brosnan  sprang  to  the  front  and  called  on  his 
men  to  renew  the  charge.  They  did,  but  were  forced  into 
a  ravine,  where  they  made  a  fierce  rally.  When  night 
closed  in  on  the  worn-out  soldiers  and  they  were  shielded 
from  the  enemy  by  the  impenetrable  darkness,  they  threw 
up  breastworks.  Early  the  following  morning,  Brosnan's 
attention  was  called  to  loud  groans  coming  from  a 
direction  exposed  to  a  very  heavy  fire.  Investigation 

showed  that  a  Union  soldier  had  been  wounded  by  concealed  rebels.  Sergeant 
Brosnan  decided  to  rescue  him,  although  he  fully  realized  the  danger  of  the  task. 
Exposed  to  the  fire  of  rebel  sharpshooters,  he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  dying  sol 
dier,  who  proved  to  be  Corporal  Michael  Carroll,  of  Company  E. 

"For  God's  sake,  Sergeant,   lie   down   or  you  will   be  killed,"  the   moribund 
whispered  feebly.     The  plucky  sergeant  lifted  his  comrade  upon  his  arms  and  with 


JOHN  BROSNAN, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  KUth  N.  Y.  Inf. 
Born  in  I  ivlund,  July  1,1816. 


—  364  — 


great  difficulty  carried  him  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's 
fire  and  behind  the  breastworks.  During  this  heroic 
rescue  he  himself  was  struck  above  the  right  elbow, 
entailing  the  loss  of  the  arm.  Thus  the  sergeant  be 
came  a  cripple  while  saving  a  wounded  comrade. 


FRANCIS  MORRISON, 

Private,  Co.  H,  85th  Penn.  Inf. 
Born  at  Ohiopyle,  Pa.,  Jan.  15, 1845. 


THE  same  day,  when  the  Union  forces  had  retired 
from  Petersburg  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  Private  Francis 
Morrison,  of  Company  H,  Eighty-fifth  Pennsylvania 
Infantry,  performed  a  similar  deed  of  heroic  devotion. 

The  regiment  was  in  full  retreat  under  the  mur 
derous  fire  of  General  Pickett's  advancing  troops, 
when  Private  Jesse  Dial,  of  Morrison's  Company,  was 
struck  by  a  bullet  and  left  behind.  Private  Morrison 
saw  his  comrade  fall  and,  with  utter  disregard  of  a  hail 
of  bullets,  advanced  towards  the  enemy  and  was  soon 

at  the  side  of  his  friend.     As  he  tenderly  raised  him  from  the  ground  he  discovered  to 
his  dismay  that  Dial  was  dead.     He  then  carried  the  corpse  back  to  his  regiment. 

A  month  later,  in  a  charge  at  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  Private  Morrison  himself  was 
wounded,  a  musket  ball  passing  through  the  breast  and  leaving  a  wound  in  his 
back  which  the  most  skillful  surgery  failed  to  heal  up.  The  award  of  the  Medal  of 
Honor  was  the  Government's  graceful  appreciation  of  such  bravery  and  soldierly 
qualities. 

JOHN  H.  HARBOURNE,  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Massachusetts  Infantry,  also  won 
his  medal  in  this  action.  In  the  heat  of  the  conflict  the  entire  color-guard  of  the 

Twenty-ninth  Massachusetts  Infantry  was  killed, 
whereupon  Private  Harbourne  took  the  colors  and 
carried  them  at  the  head  of  the  regiment.  The 
Confederates  could  not  withstand  the  vigorous  as 
sault  and  soon  the  charging  column  was  on  the 
breastworks  and  into  the  redoubt.  Private  Har 
bourne  with  his  flag  was  close  to  the  Confederate 
colors,  lying  at  the  side  of  their  wounded  color- 
bearer,  and  in  an  instant  had  them  stripped  from 
the  staff  and  tucked  safely  under  his  blouse.  A 
moment  after  he  was  wounded  in  the  foot  and  fell 
to  the  ground,  but  upon  recovering  from  the  first 
shock  he  found  that  the  redoubt  was  taken.  Al- 
JOHN  H.  HARBOURNE,  though  he  was  suffering  great  pain  from  his  wound, 

Private,  Co.  K,  29th  Mass.  Inf. 

Born  in  Birmingham,  Eng., sept.  e,i84o.        he  managed  to  capture  three  rebels  and  brought 


—  365  — 


them  into  the  Union  lines,  where  he  turned  them  and  the  Confederate  flag  over  to 
General  Burnside.  Next  morning  Private  Harbourne  was  ordered  to  report  at  head 
quarters  and  was  there  thanked  and  commended  by  General  Burnside,  and  sent  to 
the  hospital. 


RECAPTURED  COLORS  AND  TOOK  TWO  PRISONERS 


PATRICK  H.  MONAGHAN, 

Sergeant,  Co.  F,  48th  Connecticut  Inf. 
Born  at  Mayo,  Ireland,  Nov.  4, 1843 


the  night  of  June  16th,  the  Forty-eighth 
Connecticut  Infantry  of  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps,"  says  Sergeant  Patrick  H.  Monaghan,  "  of  which 
I  was  a  member,  crossed  a  marsh  in  single  file,  and 
took  position  close  to  a  portion  of  rebel  ranks.  While 
in  this  position  every  man  was  instructed  to  make 
no  noise  and  be  ready  for  a  charge. 

"Before  daylight  the  order  came,  and  we  and  the 
Thirty-sixth  Massachusetts  dashed  forward  under  a 
heavy  fire,  leaped  the  enemy's  breastworks  and 
captured  four  pieces  of  artillery,  six  hundred  prisoners 
and  a  thousand  stand  of  arms.  The  enemy  fell  back 
in  confusion  toward  their  next  line,  while  our  troops 
occupied  the  one  just  taken.  Other  members  of  my 
company  and  myself  followed  the  retreating  rebels. 
Between  the  line  just  taken  and  the  next  the  ground 
was  undulating.  A  small  stream  flowed  in  the  hol 
low.  Clumps  of  trees  and  bushes  lined  either  side  of  this  stream  and  the  enemy 
made  a  stand  here  and  delivered  fire.  As  we  dashed  forward,  I  saw  an  officer  near 
the  thicket  and  fired.  He  fell  near  the  stream  with  his  head  almost  in  the  water. 
Immediately  a  tall  rebel  threw  down  his  gun  and  ran  toward  him.  I  rushed  up 
swiftly  and,  leveling  my  empty  gun,  ordered  both  to  surrender.  The  tall  man  cried 
out :  '  Don't  shoot  the  Major ! ' 

"I  told  the  major  to  get  up  and  we  would  help  him  back.  But  as  I  was  speak 
ing,  I  saw  another  group  of  rapidly  retreating  rebels,  among  them  a  private  with  a 
gun  in  one  hand  and  a  flag  over  his  shoulder.  I  jumped  toward  him  and  ordered 
him  to  drop  his  gun  and  surrender.  He  dropped  the  gun  and  I  ran  forward,  took 
the  flag  and  marched  him  to  where  my  other  prisoners  were  seated. 

"  By  this  time  our  troops  in  the  line  behind  us  had  begun  to  fire  over  our  heads, 
and  the  Confederates  opened  a  heavy  fire  from  the  line  in  front,  but  I  ran  back  to 
my  own  company  with  the  colors.  I  got  over  the  breastworks  safely,  and  when  I 
unfurled  the  flag  found  that  it  belonged  to  the  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  who  had 
lost  it  in  the  fight  of  the  previous  day.  My  three  prisoners  were  afterwards  brought 
in  by  some  of  my  companions." 


—  366  — 


THREE    MEN   CAPTURE   TWENTY-SEVEN  "JOHNNIES" 


HENRY  W.  ROWE, 

Private,  Co.  I,  llth  New  Hampshire 

Volunteers. 
Born   April  1840. 


RIVATE  HENRY  W.  ROWE,  of  the  Eleventh  New  Hamp 
shire  Volunteers,  gives  the  following  interesting 
description  of  how  he  won  his  Medal  of  Honor : 

"On  the  night  of  the  15th  of  June,  1864,  Burnside 
with  his  Ninth  Corps  crossed  the  James  River,  and  after 
a  twenty-four  hour  march  arrived  at  the  outposts  of 
Petersburg  with  the  advance  of  his  corps.  At  6  P.  M. 
an  advance  was  made  in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire, 
and  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  together 
with  the  Second  Maryland,  succeeded  in  getting  close 
under  a  rebel  battery.  After  several  hours  of  continuous 
firing,  during  which  many  men  were  killed  and  wounded, 
the  assault  had  to  be  given  up. 

"Not  discouraged  by  this  first  repulse,  Burnside 
reconnoitered  the  lines  and  determined  to  make  a 
second  assault.  The  point  chosen  for  the  attack  was  a 

residence  owned  by  Mr.  Shand,  a  large  two-story  building  shaded  by  buttonwood 
and  gum  trees,  with  a  peach  orchard  in  the  rear.  Fifty  yards  from  the  front  door 
wras  a  narrow  ravine  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  deep,  with  a  brook  flowing  northward. 
West  of  the  house  about  the  same  distance  was  another  brook,  the  two  joining 
twenty  rods  north  of  the  house.  A  rebel  brigade  held  this  tongue  of  land 'with  four 
guns.  Their  main  line  of  breastworks  was  along  the  edge  of  the  ravine  east  of  the 
house.  South,  and  on  higher  ground,  was  a  redan  with  two  guns,  which  enfiladed 
the  ravine. 

"  It  was  Burnside's  idea  to  take  this  tongue  of  land,  break  the  rebel  line  and  com 
pel  the  evacuation  of  the  redan.  General  Potter's  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps  was 
selected  to  carry  out  his  plan,  and  the  attacking  column  was  to  consist  of  General 
Griffin's  brigade  on  the  right,  supported  by  Curtis'  on  the  left.  Griffin's  brigade  con 
tained,  all  told,  only  260  men,  and  in  the  front  line  the  Eleventh  New  Hampshire 
found  its  place,  including  Company  I  with  its  remaining  five  privates. 

"A  little  past  midnight  General  Potter  led  his  division  into  the  ravine  in  front 
of  the  house.  The  soldiers  divested  themselves  of  knapsacks,  canteens  and  cups— 
everything  which  could  make  a  noise — and  moved  forward  stealthily.  All  was  still 
and  perfectly  quiet.  We  reached  the  ravine,  and  there  above  us,  not  fifteen  paces 
distant,  w^ere  the  rebel  pickets.  The  night  was  warm  and  sultry.  The  sky  was 
flecked  by  only  a  few  light  clouds,  the  moon  becoming  full  and  clear.  Not  a  sound 
was  heard,  save  the  rumble  of  a  wagon  or  a  stray  shot  from  the  enemy's  pickets. 

"Finally,  a  little  past  three,  as  the  dawn  was  beginning  to  light  up  in  the  east, 
the  command,  '  Forward  ! '  was  passed  along  the  line  in  whispers. 


ONE  BOUND  AND  THE  REBEL  PICKETS  WERE  OVERPOWERED." 


—  368  — 


"  The  men  rose  in  a  body  from  the  ground ;  not  a  gunlock  clicked  ;  the  bayonet 
was  to  do  the  work.  Forward  we  started  with  steady,  noiseless  step.  One  bound 
and  the  rebel  pickets  were  overpowered.  Now  toward  the  Shand  House,  and  over 
the  breastworks !  At  the  right  of  the  house,  Comrade  Batchelder,  of  Company  I, 
joined  me,  and  soon  we  fell  in  with  'Sol'  Dodge,  Sergeant  of  Company  C.  Passing 
the  second  corner  of  the  house,  we  heard  the  report  of  a  musket  from  a  rebel  pit 
about  fifteen  feet  to  the  right.  We  ran  around  to  the  rear  of  this  pit  and  shouted : 
'Surrender,  you  damned  rebels!'  The  'Johnnies'  were  rather  rudely  awakened 
from  their  sleep,  and  although  twenty-seven  in  number,  dropped  their  guns. 
Guarded  by  our  attacking  force  of  three,  they  were  finally  turned  over  to  the  Union 
officers  in  the  rear,  together  with  a  rebel  flag  captured  by  myself.  The  rebel  line 
was  broken  and  Grant's  lines  were  drawn  closer  around  Petersburg." 


CAPTURED,  BUT  THEIR  COLORS  WERE  SAVED 


XI  \A/HILE  some  ^00  men  of  the  Fourth  and  Sixteenth 

\  m  *  *       Vermont  Infantry  were  destroying  the  Weldon 

__ifiiJMfc^l         1          Railroad,  Va.,  June  23,  1864,  they  found  themselves  sur 
rounded  by  General  Mahone's  Division  of  3,000  Confed 
erates;  but  though  they  were  so  greatly  outnumbered, 
they  nevertheless  made  a  brave  resistance.    The  enemy's 
fire  w7as  doing  terrible  execution  ;  more  than  half  of  the 
Union  soldiers  had  been  killed  or  wounded. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  Vermonters,  seeing 
they  could  not  extricate  themselves,  and  that  capture 
was  inevitable,  stepped  up  to  Sergeant  James  Drury, 
of  the  Fourth  Vermont  Infantry,  who  had  the  colors, 
and  remarked  that  the  regiment  would  lose  its 
standard. 

Drury  replied:    "They    will    have    to    kill    this 
Irishman  before  they  get  it." 

The  officer  pointed  to  a  road  which  seemed  to  offer  some  chance  as  an  avenue 
of  escape. 

"Go  that  way  and  perhaps  you  may  succeed  in  escaping  the  rebels,"  the  officer 
observed.  Drury  lost  no  time  in  following  the  advice.  Wrapping  the  flag  around 
the  staff,  he  said  to  his  command :  "  Boys,  I'm  going  to  save  this  flag  or  die  in  the 
attempt." 

Privates  Brown  and  Wilson  called  out:     "We'll  be  with  you,  Sergeant." 
And  then  the  three  started  across  the  open  fields.     They  had  not  progressed  far, 
however,   when  the    rebels  shouted  to  them :    "  Halt,   you    damned    Yankees ! " 


JAMES  DRURY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  C.  4th  Vermont  Infantry 
Born  in  Ireland  in  1835. 


—  369  — 


but  the  Yankees  did  not  halt.  A  shower  of  bullets  was  sent  after  them.  Poor 
Brown  fell.  To  their  regret  they  had  to  leave  the  brave  fellow  behind.  Sergeant 
Drury  and  his  remaining  companion,  Private  Wilson,  ran  as  fast  as  they  could  and 
safely  reached  the  timber.  By  this  time  darkness  had  set  in  and  the  fugitives  were 
able  to  conceal  themselves  in  the  woods  till  daybreak,  when  they  found  the  Federal 
pickets,  and  thus  saved  the  flag  from  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands. 


RETAINED  COMMAND  IN  SPITE  OF  SEVERE  WOUNDS 


THE  battle  around  Saint  Mary's  Church,  Va.,  June 
24,  1864,  brought  the  Second  Brigade  of  the 
Second  Division  of  Sheridan's  Cavalry  into  a  sharp 
and  deadly  struggle  with  superior  numbers  of  Wade 
Hampton's  Confederate  Cavalry. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  after  irreg 
ular  skirmishing  all  morning,  the  enemy  made  an 
attack  in  great  force  on  the  Second  Brigade,  to 
which  Colonel  Charles  H.  Smith's  First  Maine  Cav 
alry  was  attached,  and  from  that  time  until  dark 
the  fight  was  carried  on  by  the  brigade  with  un 
daunted  vigor.  The  enemy,  over-confident  because 
of  their  overwhelming  numbers,  charged  time  and 
again,  only  to  be  met  and  held  in  check  by  the  gal 
lant  brigade.  There  were  no  disengaged  men  in 
the  Union  lines ;  all  worked  with  a  fury,  the  cavalry 
charging,  while  two  batteries  in  the  rear  poured 

load  after  load  of  canister  into  the  staggering  lines  of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Smith, 
at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  but,  keeping  his  seat,  led  his 
brave  men  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  where  his  horse  was  shot  from  under  him. 
Mounting  another,  he  again  was  in  the  lead.  Again  his  horse  was  shot  from  under 
him,  throwing  him  heavily  to  the  ground.  A  third  horse  was  secured,  and  in  the 
retreat,  after  two  hours  of  the  fiercest  cavalry  fighting,  the  colonel,  although  again 
wounded,  remained  with  his  men,  fighting  the  pursuing  rebels  until  darkness  put  an 
end  to  this  unequal  contest. 


CHARLES  H.  SMITH, 

Colonel,  1st  Maine  Cavalry. 

Highest  rank  attained :    Bvt.  Maj-Gen., 

U.S.A. 

Born  at  Hollis,  Me.,  Nov.  1, 1827. 


The  object  of  the  Trevelian  Raid,  Va.,  June  7-24,  1864,  was  to  go  to  Lynchburg  and  open  communica 
tion  with  General  Hunter.  That  object  was  not  accomplished  and  the  cavalry  returned  via  the  White 
House  Landing,  where  a  large  train  of  wagons  was  packed  awaiting  escort  to  the  James  River.  The  cavalry 
supplied  the  escort  and  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Jones'  Bridge.  On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  Gregg's 
Division  was  sent  to  Saint  Mary's  Church  as  a  flank  guard,  and,  thus  became  separated  from  the  main 
cavalry  corps.  Hampton  discovered  this  fact,  and,  as  he  despaired  of  capturing  the  train,  concentrated  all 
his  cavalry  to  capture  or  destroy  Gregg's  Division. 


—  370  — 


HE  PAUSED  AT  THE  SIDE  OF  HIS  DEAD  CAPTAIN 


NELSON  W.  WARD, 

Sergeant,  Troop  M,  llth  Pa.  Cavalry. 

Born  at  Bollfont,  Columbiana  County, 

Ohio,  Nov.  '20,  1887. 


A  SMALL  force,  part  of  which  was  the  Eleventh  Penn- 
^*  sylvania  Cavalry,  was  sent,  June  25,  1864,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stetzel,  to  destroy  the 
railroad  bridge  across  the  Staunton  River,  half  a  mile 
south  of  Burk's  Junction,  Va.  The  enemy  was  strongly 
entrenched  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  railway  bridge.  The  approach  to  the  bridge 
and  the  Confederates'  position  was  flat  meadow  land, 
destitute  of  cover  for  the  advancing  force,  excepting 
perhaps  a  slight  depression  caused  by  the  dry  bed  of  a 
branch  of  the  river.  The  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  was 
ordered  to  advance  on  the  bridge  and  entrenchments, 
led  by  carbineers  selected  from  each  company.  A 
member  of  Troop  M  being  suddenly  stricken  ill,  the 
captain  called  for  a  volunteer  to  take  the  sick  man's 
place,  and  Sergeant  Nelson  W.  Ward,  though  he  himself 

had  been  on  sick  report  for  a  day  or  two,  volunteered  and  took  his  place  in  the 
ranks.     The  story  is  continued  by  Sergeant  Ward,  as  follows : 

"Our  troops  moved  forward  in  an  irregular  line,  and,  with  the  right  resting  on  a 
small  trestle  between  the  railway  station  and  the  bridge,  took  a  position  in  the  dry 
bed  of  the  stream.  The  fury  of  the  fight  was  soon  on,  firing  at  short  range  from 
both  artillery  and  infantry  sending  death  into  our  ranks  with  terrific  swiftness. 
With  a  salute  to  my  captain,  I  asked :  'Isn't  the  colonel  going  to  form  the  men  in 
line  for  a  charge  on  the  bridge  ?'  at  which  Captain  Gerard  Reynolds  replied,  giving 
the  order:  'Forward,  men,  forward !'  They  were  the  brave  officer's  last  words,  for 
he  fell  dead,  shot  as  he  uttered  the  last  word  of  his  command. 

"Just  then,  too,  from  under  the  trestle,  we  heard  the  colonel  ordering  the  captain 
to  move  his  men  to  the  right,  toward  the  railroad.  Thus,  with  our  company  com 
mander  dead,  our  regimental  commander  skulking,  it  was  not  singular  that  the  men 
wavered  under  the  shower  of  shot  and  shell.  One  of  the  men  asked  me :  '  What 
are  we  to  do?'  I  replied:  'Follow  me,  boys,'  and.  swinging  my  carbine  over  my 
head,  I  led  in  a  charge  against  the  bridge  until  every  man  but  one  had  been  shot 
down." 


Staimton  River  Bridge,  Va. — While  operating  in  Virginia  in  June,  1864,  General  James  H.  Wilson, 
commanding  the  Third  Division  of  Sheridan's  Cavalry  Corps,  ordered  General  Kautz's  Division  to  attack 
the  enemy  and  destroy  the  bridge  across  the  Staunton  River.  The  attack  was  maintained  for  three  hours, 
but  failed.  The  Federals  suffered  a  loss  of  sixty  in  killed  and  wounded. 


—  371  — 

"  It  was  an  awful  slaughter  and  a  hopeless  effort.  With  but  two  of  us  left,  we 
started  back  for  the  dry  bed  depression.  On  the  way  I  found  the  dead  body  of  my 
captain,  and  stopping,  I  knelt  down  to  secure  his  money,  watch,  revolver  and  spur. 
Although  repeatedly  urged  by  comrades  across  the  railway  and  further  back  on  the 
line,  I  remained  fully  twenty  minutes  at  his  side,  endeavoring  to  procure  assistance 


"FINALLY    HAD   TO    RETREAT 
TO  THE   MAIN    FORCE." 


*„  :-r 


to  carry  the  corpse  off  the  field,  but  I  waited  and  begged  in  vain,  and  finally  had  to 
retreat  to  the  main  force  without  the  body  of  our  brave  and  beloved  captain." 

During  this  truly  heroic  effort,  a  bullet  struck  the  heel  of  Sergeant  Ward's  boot, 
and  another  bullet  passed  through  the  skirt  of  his  blouse. 

The  money  and  other  articles  from  Captain  Reynolds  were  turned  over  to  the 
proper  authorities. 


-372- 


A  MUSICIAN   AS  A  SHARPSHOOTER 


A  LONZO  P.  Webber,  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Volun- 
**  teers,  Principal  Musician  of  his  regiment  when  it 
was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga., 
June  27,  1864,  distinguished  himself  by  voluntarily  ad 
vancing  as  a  sharpshooter. 

Seeing  the  desperate  situation  of  his  regiment,  with 
no  chance  to  advance,  he  obtained  permission  from 
Colonel  Fahnestock  to  "go  in"  as  a  sharpshooter.  With 
a  Winchester  rifle  and  120  rounds  of  ammunition,  he 
succeeded  in  advancing  to  within  twenty-seven  feet  of 
the  rebel  line  of  battle,  which  was  formed  in  V  shape. 
There  he  found  shelter  behind  a  tree,  and  although  he 

was  at  the  apex,  with  the  enemy  on  both  sides  of  him,  he  stood  his  ground  from 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Being  an  excellent 
shot  he  brought  down  a  number  of  the  enemy,  while  the  Union  forces  lay  behind 
him  at  the  distance  of  a  city  block  or  more,  unable  to  get  closer  to  the  enemy's  line. 
Webber's  courage  on  that  day  won  him  the  admiration  of  his  whole  regiment, 
none  of  whom  had  expected  to  see  him  return  alive  from  his  dangerous  position. 


ALONZO  P.  WEBBER, 

Principal  Musician,  86th  Illinois  Vol. 
Born  March  16, 1828. 


Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga. — Almost  continuous  fighting  was  engaged  in  from  the  8th  to  the  27th  of  June, 
1864,  in  the  vicinity  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  both  sides  sustaining  serious  losses.  Sherman  had  moved  his 
army  to  a  position  in  front  of  Allatoona,  occupying  the  railroad  from  Allatoona  and  Acworth  to  Big  Shanty, 
in  sight  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  where  he  was  joined  by  General  Blair,  with  two  divisions  of  the  Seventeenth 
Corps,  thus  making  his  effective  force  100,000  men.  On  the  10th  he  moved  his  army  to  Big  Shanty,  repaired 
the  railroad  and  bridges,  and  had  the  cars  running  up  to  his  skirmish  lines. 

Heavy  fighting  occurred  on  the  14th  at  Pine  Mountain,  near  the  Acworth  and  Marietta  Road,  in 
which  General  Polk  was  killed  by  one  of  Sherman's  volleys  from  a  battery  fired  to  keep  up  the  appearance 
of  a  bold  offensive.  Johnston  concentrated  his  strength  by  the  20th  and  made  his  position  strong,  with  the 
Kenesaw  Mountain  for  a  salient.  On  the  27th,  Sherman,  after  stretching  his  lines  to  the  utmost,  fell  upon 
Johnston's  fortified  position,  the  assault  being  made  in  the  morning.  At  all  points  along  the  ten  miles 
over  which  Sherman's  army  extended  the  Confederates  resisted  the  assaults,  and  by  noon  Sherman's 
attempt  was  pronounced  a  failure. 

Sherman's  loss  was  about  2,500,  while  Johnston's  was  only  800.  A  truce  was  granted  on  the  29th  of 
June  to  allow  the  Federals  to  bury  their  dead. 


. 


—  375  — 


LEFT  TO  THEIR  FATE,  BUT  ESCAPED 


GEORGE  E.  DAVIS, 

First  Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  10th  Vermont  Inf. 

Born  at  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Dec.  26,  1839. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 


ENERAL  LEW  WALLACE,  who  was  opposing  Gen- 
era!  Early's  advance  at  the  Monocacy  River, 
Md.,  in  July,  1864,  placed  a  line  of  skirmishers  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river  to  defend  a  railroad 
bridge  and  a  wooden  bridge  that  continued  the 
pike  from  Frederick  City  to  Washington. 

On  the  9th  the  situation  was  critical.  Early's 
forces  greatly  outnumbered  Wallace's.  Ricketts 
was  engaged  with  the  enemy  and  might  be  driven 
back  before  the  skirmishers  could  be  retired.  If 
the  skirmishers  were  retired  the  enemy  would  fol 
low  on  their  heels,  thus  allowing  no  time  to  destroy 
the  bridge. 

General  Wallace,  seeing  that  it  was  useless  to 
further  resist  the  overwhelming  assault,  decided  to 
destroy  the  bridge  and  sacrifice  his  skirmishers  to 
save  Washington. 

Lieutenant  George  E.  Davis,  of  Company  D,  Tenth  Vermont  Infantry,  who  was 
in  command  of  the  skirmishers,  gives  the  following  account  of  their  brave  resistance 
of  the  enemy  and  of  their  ultimate  escape : 

"Early  in  the  morning  on  the  9th,  with  one  second  lieutenant  and  seventy-five 
men  of  our  regiment,  I  was  ordered  to  report  as  skirmishers  to  Captain  Charles  J. 
Brown,  commanding  Companies  C  and  K,  First  Maryland  Regiment,  near  the  block 
house  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Monocacy  River.  He  and  his  two  hundred  men  had 
just  entered  the  service  for  one  hundred  days,  to  repel  this  invasion  of  Washington, 
and  knew  nothing  of  actual  service.  The  lieutenant-colonel,  nominally  command 
ing  our  skirmishers,  wras  not '  present,'  so  that  when  the  enemy  advanced  along  the 
pike  to  Frederick  City  at  about  8:30  A.  M.,  Captain  Brown  insisted  upon  my  taking 
command,  and  ordered  me  to  hold  the  two  bridges  at  all  hazards,  and  prevent  the 
enemy  from  crossing. 

"  I  assumed  command  instantly,  brought  up  my  Tenth  Vermonters  to  this  point, 
and  after  a  severe  fight  of  about  an  hour  the  enemy  retired.  Having  just  assumed 
command,  I  knew  nothing  of  the  situation,  or  plan  of  battle,  except  as  was  apparent 


After  the  battle  of  Piedmont,  Va.,  General  Hunter  advanced  toward  Lynchburg,  which  he  reached 
on  the  16th  of  June,  1864,  but  for  want  of  ammunition  he  sought  Harper's  Ferry,  which  left  the  Shenan- 
doah  Valley  uncovered.  General  Early  took  prompt  advantage  of  this  opening  to  cross  the  upper  Potomac 
into  Maryland  and  threaten  Washington.  After  rapid  marches  he  crossed  the  Potomac  on  the  4th  of  July, 
but  was  met  by  General  Lew  Wallace  at  the  Monocracy  River,  who,  in  General  Hunter's  absence,  made  an 
obstinate  stand  against  the  invaders.  Wallace,  with  his  small  force,  was  unable  to  cope  with  the  over 
whelming  force  of  the  enemy,  and  retired,  but  not,  however,  until  after  he  had  held  Early  in  check  long 
enough  to  notify  Grant  of  the  situation,  whereupon  the  latter  ordered  Wright's  Corps  to  push  out  and 
to  attack  Early  ;  but  the  Confederates  retired  across  the  Potomac  with  but  little  loss. 


—  376  — 


to  the  eye.  The  natural  advantages  of  cover  and  position  were  in  our  favor.  The 
main  body  of  the  enemy  moved  around  to  our  left  and  crossed  the  river  at  a  ford 
one  mile  southwest,  compelling  General  Ricketts  to  change  front  to  the  left  and 
advance  his  line  to  the  west  of  the  pike.  This  left  us  a  part  of  the  main  line  of 
battle,  without  any  support  in  our  rear,  which  gave  the  enemy  the  opportunity  to  cut 
us  off,  take  us  prisoners,  cross  the  railroad  bridge  and  turn  General  Ricketts'  position 


"WE 

GAINED 
THE 

RAILROAD 
BRIDGE  AND 
STARTED  ACROSS" 

"Anticipating  a  flank  attack,  I  had,  on  assuming  command,  sent  pickets  up  and 
down  the  river,  who  warned  me  of  this  movement,  which  was  entirely  hidden  from 
my  view.  I  drew  back  my  men  to  the  west  end  of  the  railroad  bridge,  faced  to  the 
north,  repelled  the  attack,  then  resumed  my  former  position  on  the  pike,  which  we 
held  until  the  final  retreat  at  about  five  o'clock.  During  all  this  time  we  were  the 
only  troops  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 


—  377 


"  In  the  early  part  of  this  noon  attack,  the  wooden  bridge  over  the  Monocacy 
River  was  burned,  without  notice  to  me.  At  the  same  time  the  Ninth  New  York 
pickets  were  all  withdrawn,  also  without  notice. 

"The  third  and  last  attack  began  about  3:30  P.  M.  The  situation  was  critical; 
the  enemy  came  upon  us  in  such  overwhelming  numbers  and  with  such  desperation 
that  it  seemed  as  though  we  should  be  swept  into  the  river.  The  place  of  the  Ninth 
New  York  pickets  at  my  left  had  not  been  filled  :  the  force  of  the  hundred-day  men 
was  diminishing.  Apprehending  an  advance  at  my  left,  I  sent  Corporal  John  G. 
Wright  through  a  cornfield  to  reconnoiter.  He  was  killed  at  once.  Immediately 
the  enemy  were  seen  passing  around  my  right,  to  cut  us  off  from  retreat  by  the  rail 
road  bridge  ;  our  division  was  falling  back  and  we  were  obliged  to  do  likewise  at  once 
or  succumb  to  the  merciless  fire.  I  gave  the  signal  to  retreat  to  my  noble  Vermont- 
ers,  who  had  stood  the  fire  without  wavering.  We  gained  the  railroad  bridge  and 
started  across,  stepping  from  tie  to  tie.  It  seemed  ages  before  we  reached  the  other 
side,  though  in  reality  it  must  have  been  only  a  few  minutes.  One  poor  fellow  fell 
through  the  bridge  to  the  river,  forty  feet  below,  and  several  were  taken  prisoners, 
for  the  enemy  had  been  close  at  our  heels  all  the  way.  Those  of  our  number  who 
escaped  rejoined  our  regiment  at  midnight." 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  FIVE  CONFEDERATE  CAVALRYMEN 


CORPORAL  GEORGE  W.  HEALEY,  of  Troop  E,  Fifth 
Iowa  Cavalry,  who  participated   in   General 
McCook's   Cavalry   Raid  during  Sherman's  Atlanta 
campaign,   says:     "At  Newnan,  Ga.,  July  29,  1864, 
our  company  was  ordered   out  on   the  skirmish  line 
which  was  on  the   extreme   left  of  our   main  line  of 
battle.     The  engagement  lasted  more  or  less  all  day. 
In  moving  out  we  struck  into  low  ground,  timber  and 
heavy  undergrowth     It  was  difficult  to  keep  our  align 
ment  and  intervals  and  consequently  I  soon  discovered 
that  I  was  alone  and  unobserved.     Suddenly  I  ran  into 
a  body  of  Confederate  soldiers.     Their  officer  was  giving 
a  command  to  mount  and  count  fours.     They  did  not 
see  me,  so  I  began  to  retrace  my  steps  and  moved  back 
to   find  my  command,  when,  to  my   surprise,   I  came 
upon  a  Confederate  who  was  seated  on  a  log  and  ordered 
him  to  drop  his  gun,  which  he  did.     I  picked  it  up  and 
threw  it  into  the  creek.    Just  as  I  was  about  to  move  with 

my  prisoner  I  heard  someone  approaching  us.  Ordering  the  rebel  to  lie  down,  I  sought 
protection  from  behind  a  tree  and  waited.  To  my  satisfaction  I  recognized  in  the 
new  arrival  Private  Oscar  Martin,  of  my  company,  who  was  bareheaded  and  coming 


GEORGE  W.  HEALEY, 

Corporal,  Troop  E,  Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  Feb.  22, 1842 


—  378  — 


toward  me  at  a  quick  pace.  He  had  lost  his  way.  Looking  at  my  prisoner  and 
pointing  to  the  direction  whence  he  had  come,  he  said :  '  The  woods  are  full  of 
'em.'  'Yes,'  I  replied,  pointing  to  where  I  had  been,  'and  over  there,  too.' 

"  Martin  scrutinized  my  prisoner  and  asked  :    '  What  have  you  got  in  that  bag  ? ' 

"  The  rebel  answered  :  '  Chewing  tobacco.' 

"  Whereupon  Martin  compelled  him  to  disgorge,  and,  I  confess,  it  came  in  handy. 

"  As  we  were  about  to  resume  our  march,  we  heard  men  talking.  We  got  behind 
a  tree  and  the  next  minute  four  Confederates  came,  trailing  in  Indian  fashion, 
toward  us.  Martin  and  I  stepped  from  behind  the  trees  and  covered  them.  I  or 
dered  :  '  Halt !  Drop  those  guns ! '  but  had  to  repeat  the  command  before  they  obeyed. 
I  then  marched  them  some  fifty  feet,  halted  them,  and  ordered  one  man  to  advance 
at  a  time,  when  Martin  and  I  relieved  them  of  their  revolvers,  holsters  and  belts. 
Next,  while  Martin  kept  guard,  I  went  back,  removed  the  cartridges  from  the  rifles 
they  had  dropped  and  returned  the  empty  guns  to  them.  We  moved  toward  our 
lines  and  reached  them  without  further  interruption,  where  we  turned  our  five  pris 
oners  over  to  General  McCook,  who  paid  us  a  high  compliment." 

Corporal  Healey  received  a  Medal  of  Honor  ;  his  companion  died  or  he  would 
doubtless  have  been  honored  in  a  like  manner. 


THE  COLONEL'S  WRATH  WAS 
APPEASED 


A  T  THE  BATTLE  OF  PEACH  TREE  CREEK,  Ga.,  before 
**  Atlanta,  an  act  wa,s  performed  by  Color-Sergeant 
William  Crosier,  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth 
New  York  Infantry,  of  which  an  officer  of  his  regi 
ment  says : 

"  It  was  one  of  superb  bravery  in  action  and  of  de 
votion  to  the  flag,  which  made  him  hold  life  as  nothing 
beside  the  safety  of  the  starry  banner." 

This  officer  continues :      "  The  field  was  covered  with 
woods,  thick  with  undergrowth  and  trailing  vines.     The 
troops  of  the  line  of  battle  were  suddenly  and  unex 
pectedly  attacked  by  a  superior  force  and  routed.     Our  brigade,  being  in  reserve 
in  column  of  regiments,  was  ordered  forward,  each  regiment  advancing  as  it  became 


WILLIAM  CROSIER, 

Color  Sergeant,  149th  N.  Y.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Skaneatolos.  N.  Y..  August  30, 

1843. 


During  the  operations  before  Atlanta  by  the  Union  Army,  the  Confederate  general,  Johnston,  was 
relieved  of  his  command  by  Hood,  who  at  once  engaged  the  Federals  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Oa.,  July  20, 
1864.  He  was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  4,796.  Sherman's  loss  was  1,710.  After  several  engagements  in 
which  the  Federals  were  victorious,  Hood  retired,  September  2,  to  Lovejoy's  Station,  thirty  miles  away, 
and  Sherm  an  took  possession  of  the  town. 


—  879  — 


deployed.  This  brought  the  regiments  into  action  singly,  and  each  in  turn  was 
routed  by  overwhelming  numbers. 

"  Our  regiment  crossed  the  enfiladed  ravine  at  the  center,  with  the  colors  and 
about  seventy-five  officers  and  men,  and  ascended  the  woody  acclivity  thickly  un- 
dergrown  with  brush  and  vines,  only  to  recoil  under  a  withering  fire  full  in  our 
faces." 

Sergeant  Crosier  adds :  "  We  were  far  ahead  of  the  main  line,  trying  to  establish 
the  advanced  position,  when  the  fight  began.  The  regiments  were  sent  in,  one  at  a 
time,  to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  were  literally  wiped  out  as  they  were 
struck.  Then  came  movements  never  to  be  forgotten.  My  six  color-guards  having 
all  been  shot  down  within  six  feet  from  where  I  stood,  I  found  myself  alone,  un 
armed,  with  Confederates  storming  all  around  me  and  demanding  my  flag.  I  cried 
to  them  to  take  it,  if  they  could,  and,  swiftly  tearing  the  flag  off  the  staff,  stuffed  it 
under  my  shirt  and  retreated,  leaving  my  flag-staff  behind." 

Out  of  the  bushes  Sergeant  Crosier  came  staggering  and  covered  with  blood  from 
a  serious  wound,  and  —  empty  handed.  He  met  Colonel  Barnum,  the  commander  of 
the  regiment.  "  Where  is  that  flag  ? "  he  angrily  demanded  of  the  color-sergeant, 
drawing  his  sword  ready  to  cut  him  down. 

Sergeant  Crosier  smiled  feebly,  unbuttoned  his  blouse  and  produced  the  flag. 


MERITED  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  ADMIRATION 


"My  grateful  personal  acknowledgment  of  the  almost  ines- 
teemable  service  you  rendered  the  country.  *  *  * 

"  Your  chivalry  and  daring  described  by  the  above  generals 
and  so  appreciated  by  them  and  by  myself,  which  always  win  the 
admiration  of  the  world,  are  acts  of  absolute,  indomitable  courage, 
not  needing  to  be  emblazoned  by  the  correspondent's  pen,  as  they 
are  written  on  the  annals  of  the  American  history  by  your  sword. 

"  Yours  very  truly. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. " 

THE  proud  recipient  of  this  flattering  letter  was 
Captain   M.   R.  William   Grebe   of  the   Fourth 
Missouri  Cavalry  and  aide-de-camp  to  Generals  Mc- 
Pherson,  0.  0.  Howard,  and  Logan. 

The  generals  to  w7hom  the   President  refers  are 
Generals  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Logan,  and  Blair. 

Interesting  indeed  must  be  the  career  of  the  sol 
dier  who  earns  the  praise  from  these  heroes  of  a  great 
nation !     Captain  Grebe's  career  is  highly  fascinating,  romantic,  thrilling. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  Grebe,  who  is  a  native  of  the  Province  of  Hanover  - 
then  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover— was  a  lieutenant  in  the  army  of  his  country.     The 


M.  R.  WILLIAM  GREBE. 

Captain.  Fourth  Missouri  Cavalry. 

Born  in  Hildesheim,  Germany,  Aug.  4, 1838. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Major. 


—  380  — 

struggle  of  the  Union  for  freedom  and  liberty  aroused  in  the  young  officer  an 
enthusiasm  for  the  Federal  cause  which  induced  him  to  resign  his  rank,  leave  home 
and  country  and  cross  the  ocean  to  espouse  a  cause  which  had  appealed  to  him  so 
strongly. 

Upon  his  arrival  here  he  at  once  joined  the  Union  forces  and  was  made  a  lieu 
tenant  of  Troop  T,  Fourth  Missouri  Cavalry.  His  military  training  and  excellent 
soldierly  qualities  at  once  drew  the  attention  of  his  superior  officers  to  him  and  ere 
long  he  found  himself  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  same  regiment.  A  little  later 
Major-General  McPherson  selected  him  as  one  of  his  aides-de-camp. 

From  the  very  outset  of  his  military  career  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  when  he 
first  went  into  battle  until  a  dramatic  incident  abruptly  placed  him  back  to  a 
civilian's  life,  Captain  Grebe's  conduct  was  one  of  inspiring  brilliancy — a  succession 
of  extraordinarily  daring  feats,  so  much  so  that  Congress  in  awarding  him  the  Medal 
of  Honor  found  it  impossible  to  particularize,  but  granted  it  for  his  general  gallant 
behavior. 

On  July  22,  1864,  he  was  sent  by  General  Mc*Pherson  to  deliver  a  message  to 
General  Kilpatrick  at  Decatur,  Ga.  The  Confederates  were  driving  back  the  Union 
cavalry  in  wild  confusion  and  had  successfully  turned  the  Federal  left  wing.  Captain 
Grebe  delivered  his  message  and  at  once  obtained  permission  to  participate  in  a 
cavalry  charge  with  his  orderly,  Henry  Wagner.  He  himself  led  this  charge  and 
in  a  mad  rush,  which  struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the  Confederates,  while  it  inspired 
his  own  men,  broke  through  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  completely  routing  them. 
He  caught  up  with  the  color-bearer,  who  had  the  flag  fastened  to  his  stirrup  and  leg, 
thus  allowing  him  to  handle  the  reins  and  his  revolver  without  hindrance.  The 
Confederate  frequently  fired  at  Grebe,  two  of  the  shots  taking  effect ;  but  that  did 
not  deter  the  plucky  captain,  and  when  his  horse  was  along  side  that  of  the  Confed 
erate's,  he  grasped  the  flag  and  cut  the  rebel  down  with  a  tremendous  sabre  blow 
over  the  head. 

Captain  Grebe,  however,  did  not  escape  unhurt.  He  was  bleeding  profusely  from 
two  gunshot  wounds  in  his  legs,  and  upon  his  return  to  General  McPherson  was  told 
by  this  commander  to  seek  medical  aid  at  the  hospital,  but  the  captain  declined  and 
in  spite  of  his  condition  remained  in  the  saddle  all  day. 

During  the  afternoon  of  that  same  day  General  McPherson  was  shot  and  the 
captain  again  became  a  leading  figure  in  the  battle. 

He  was  riding  to  the  place  where  he  had  only  a  short  time  before  left  the  gen 
eral,  when,  to  his  amazement,  he  observed  his  commander's  horse  coming  riderless 
from  a  thicket.  Instantly  Captain  Grebe  knew  what  had  happened. 

Dauntless  and  alone,  not  knowing  whether  he  would  encounter  an  army  corps 
or  a  corporal's  guard,  collecting  a  few  cavalrymen  on  the  way,  Captain  Grebe  charged 
into  the  thick  underbrush. 


—  381  — 

General  Frank  P.  Blair  says  in  his  official  report :  "  The  fearless  captain  ran  up 
against  the  very  rebels  who  had  just  killed  General  McPherson.  The  dead  hero  had 
been  robbed  of  his  belt,  field-glasses,  watch,  pistol  and  papers.  The  struggle  took 
place  where  the  general  had  fallen.  A  rebel  on  horseback  made  a  dash  at  Captain 
Grebe,  who  shot  him  down.  Two  men  on  foot  raised  their  guns  at  the  Captain's 
head.  Wagner,  the  plucky  orderly,  put  a  bullet  into  one,  while  the  captain  himself 
split  the  other's  head  with  his  sabre.  Then  the  rebels  fled,  leaving  the  general's 
body  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Grebe,  who  on  this  occasion  captured  a  corporal 
and  numerous  other  prisoners." 


"HE  CUT  THE  REBEL  DOWN  WITH  A  TREMENDOUS  SABRE  BLOW." 

Six  days  later,  at  Ezra  Church,  General  Logan's  Corps  was  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  who  had  made  three  furious  assaults  on  his  lines,  only  to  be  repulsed  each 
time.  After  the  third  repulse  and  countercharge  by  the  Union  troops,  S.  Houston, 
of  Company  F,  Fourth  Missouri  Cavalry,  was  missing.  Some  time  later  he  was  dis 
covered  midway  between  the  lines  of  battle  and  held  down  by  the  body  of  his  horse. 
Captain  Grebe  instantly  mounted  his  horse  and  dashed  out  toward  the  enemy's  line, 
some  700  yards  distant.  Reaching  Houston's  side  he  dismounted,  cut  him  free  from 


—  382  — 

straps  and  stirrups  and,  getting  him  out  from  under  the  horse,  helped  him  into  his 
own  saddle.  Then,  mounting  behind,  he  brought  him  back  to  be  received  with  a 
tremendous  cheer  along  the  whole  Union  lines." 

At  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  August  31,  1864,  Captain  Grebe,  at  that  time  aide  to 
General  0.  0.  Howard,  volunteered  to  cross  Flint  river  with  a  message  to  a  dis 
mounted  cavalry  regiment  which  was  needed  to  re-enforce  the  line  of  battle  at  a  point 
which  was  seriously  threatened.  Away  he  started  and  after  swimming  the  river  and 
crossing  an  old  cotton  field,  continuously  braving  a  terrific  fire  of  musketry,  grape 
and  canister,  he  reached  the  regiment  and  started  with  it  in  the  return.  As  the  re- 
enforcement  took  position  in  the  line  of  battle,  Captain  Grebe  dismounted  and,  pick 
ing  up  the  gun  of  a  fallen  comrade,  took  his  place  in  line.  He  was  in  a  kneeling  posi 
tion,  firing,  with  one  knee  for  a  "rest,"  when  General  Logan  and  his  staff  rode  up 
from  behind.  The  general,  recognizing  his  former  aide,  remarked  jokingly:  "Captain, 
you're  getting  religious  even  in  battle  line  and  you  will  go  to  heaven  ;  but  this  is  no 
place  for  a  camp  meeting." 

At  this  Captain  Grebe  jumped  upon  the  earthworks  and  waving  his  gun,  shouted : 
"  To  hell  with  camp  meetings,  let's  go  to  yonder  hell  first.  Come  on  boys ! "  Gen 
eral  Logan's  bugler  sounded  the  call  and  the  whole  line  made  a  most  successful 
charge.  As  the  Union  forces  met  the  Confederate  line,  which  was  turning  to  run, 
Captain  Grebe  struck  a  color-bearer,  who  fell,  dragging  the  colors  down  with  him. 
Then  the  captain  got  into  a  hand-to-hand  fight  with  several  Confederates  and  was 
nearly  overcome,  when  an  officer  of  Osterhaus'  Corps  came  to  his  assistance.  Cap 
tain  Grebe  again  sprang  forward  to  wrench  the  flag  from  the  fallen  color-bearer, 
when  the  sword  of  a  hostile  sergeant  struck  his  left  breast  and  he  fell  unconscious 
upon  the  body  of  the  rebel  flag-bearer.  Simultaneously,  Wagner  again  came  to  his 
captain's  rescue,  and  with  a  slashing  blow  of  his  sabre  cut  the  Confederate  sergeant 
down. 

After  the  battle  General  Logan  saluted  Captain  Grebe  with  a  wave  of  his  slouch 
hat,  saying:  "Well  done,  Grebe ;  the  battle  is  won  by  your  intrepidity  and  dash." 

And  now  follows  a  dramatic  incident.  Captain  Grebe,  in  recognition  of  his 
unusually  gallant  services,  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  to  be  promoted 
Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Missouri  Cavalry.  While  in  that  city  he  one  evening  escorted 
a  lady  to  a  theatre  and  was  incensed  at  an  insult  to  which  he  and  the  lady  were  sub 
jected  by  Ferdinand  Hansen,  also  a  cavalry  officer.  A  duel  was  the  inevitable  out 
come.  They  fought  with  45-calibre  revolvers  at  a  distance  of  twelve  yards.  Hansen 
fell,  shot  through  the  breast,  but  eventually  recovered.  Captain  Grebe  was  cashiered 
from  the  army  as  well  as  all  those  who  had  any  part  in  this  affaire  d'honneur. 

Thirty  years  elapsed  before  Captain  Grebe's  case,  the  duel  and  the  cause  which 
led  up  to  it,  was  investigated  by  Congress.  Then  not  only  was  his  honorable  dis 
charge  ordered,  but  so  greatly  impressed  were  the  nation's  representatives  with  the 
military  record  of  this  officer  that  they  awarded  him  the  Medal  of  Honor  as  a  just 
tribute  of  his  unexcelled  bravery. 


383 


INTERRUPTIONS  AT  A  REBEL  BREAKFAST 


EDWIN  M.  TRUELL, 

Private,  Co.  E,  12th  Wisconsin  Infantry. 
Born  at  Lowell,  Mass..  Aug.  19. 1841. 


AN  assault  was  made  by  General  Force's  Brigade 
**  upon  rebel  works  at  Bald  Hill,  near  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  July  21,  1864.  The  action  opened  early  in  the 
morning  by  a  bayonet  charge  up  the  hill,  through  a 
cornfield  and  across  a  field  of  underbrush  and  small 
trees  felled  in  all  directions  to  obstruct  the  advance. 
The  Twelfth  Wisconsin  formed  part  of  the  brigade, 
and  as  it  swept  up  the  hill  Private  Edwin  M.  Truell, 
of  Company  E,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  right  foot 
by  a  Minie  ball.  The  wound  was  very  painful  and 
caused  the  injured  man  to  limp,  but  he  could  still 
travel  and  bravely  kept  up  in  line.  The  regiment 
took  three  lines  of  breastworks  and  captured  many 
prisoners.  As  the  "Union  soldiers  bounded  over  the 
earthworks  at  the  first  line,  the  rebels  in  the  trenches 

were  completely  taken  by  surprise.  They  were  at  their  breakfast  and  left  their  corn 
and  cakes  and  bacon  in  tin  pans  on  the  ground  as  they  sprang  to  their  feet,  guns  in 
hand.  Private  Truell  struck  three  Confederates,  who  were  so  terror-stricken  that 
they,  unable  to  recover  their  wits,  cried:  "We  surrender!  We  surrender!  Wliat 
shall  we  do  ? " 

"Throw  down  your  guns  and  go  to  the  rear!"  Private  Truell  shouted,  and  the 
rebels  fairly  fell  over  each  other  in  their  haste  to  comply.  The  a,dvance  continued. 
Once  over  the  last  line,  Private  Truell  took  station  behind  a  large  pine  tree,  where 
he  tried  to  rally  his  comrades  to  his  support.  The  order  to  retreat  had  been  given, 
however,  and  the  breastworks  on  the  right,  which  had  not  been  captured,  were  now 
pouring  in  an  enfilading  fire.  For  some  few  minutes  Private  Truell  maintained  his 
position,  but,  finding  it  impossible  to  bring  others  forward  and  anticipating  a  charge 
by  the  enemy  in  an  effort  to  retake  the  works,  he  fell  back  across  the  road  and 
rejoined  his  comrades.  The  rebels  did  charge  and  during  the  subsequent  severe 
fighting  the  plucky  private  received  a  second  shot  close  to  the  first  wound  and  fell 
exhausted  from  loss  of  blood  to  the  ground. 

His  comrades  ran  to  his  assistance  and  offered  to  take  him  to  the  rear,  but  he 
refused.  Instead  he  crawled  on  hands  and  knees  through  a  strip  of  wroods,  across 
the  field  and  dowrn  the  hill  to  a  little  creek,  where  he  dressed  and  bandaged  his  own 
wound  with  a  handkerchief.  He  returned  in  the  same  manner,  and,  unmindful  of 
his  own  condition,  directed  his  attention  to  his  wounded  comrades,  whose  thirst  he 
quenched  from  his  canteen,  and  wrhose  sufferings  he  endeavored  to  alleviate.  It  was 
evening  when  he  was  taken  off  the  field  and  conveyed  to  a  field  hospital,  where,  after 
seven  weeks  of  intense  suffering,  the  leg  was  amputated. 


—  884  — 


THE  HERO  OF  FORT  HASKELL 


CHARLES  H.  HOUGHTON, 

Captain,  Co.  L,  14th  New  York  Artillery. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Colonel. 

Born  at  Houghton  Homestead,  Macomb,  St. 

Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  80, 1842. 


A  X  T"HEN  General  Meade  changed  General  Burn- 
*  *  side's  plan  of  attack  at  the  battle  of  the 
Crater,  Va.,  July  30,  1864,  and  ordered  that  one 
division  of  white  troops  should  lead  the  assault, 
if  fell  by  lot  to  the  Fourteenth  New  York  Artillery 
to  lead  the  charge.  The  mine  extending  from  the 
Union  lines  to  a  point  under  the  Confederate  strong 
hold  was  ready  to  be  sprung  July  29.  During  the 
night  General  Ledlie's  Division,  to  which  the  Four 
teenth  New  York  Artillery  belonged,  marched  out 
through  the  covered  ways  and  formed  lines  just  in 
rear  of  the  most  advanced  Federal  works,  where  it 
awaited  the  explosion  with  no  little  anxiety,  and  as 
the  men  had  been  without  sleep  all  night  many  lay 
down  for  a  brief  rest. 

"  No  word  could  be  uttered  aloud  ;  orders  were  given  in  a  whisper,"  says  Captain 
Charles  H.  Houghton,  of  Company  L,  Fourteenth  New  York  Artillery.  "After 
hours  of  silent  and  anxious  waiting  we  knew  the  time  for  the  explosion  had 
passed  and  later  learned  that  a  lieutenant  and  a  sergeant  of  the  Forty-eighth  Penn 
sylvania  had  gone  into  the  tunnel  and  found  that  the  burning  fuse  had  gone  out 
where  it  had  been  spliced.  It  was  relighted  and  soon  after,  about  daylight,  it 
reached  the  magazines.  The  effect  was  beyond  description.  The  earth  under  us, 
and  for  some  distance  back  of  us,  seemed  to  be  the  brink  of  a  volcano,  or  the 
long  roll  of  an  ocean  swell.  Soldiers  lying  on  the  ground  were  almost  lifted  to  a 
standing  position  ;  and  then  with  a  mighty  power  the  earth  opened,  flames  shot  up 
ward,  carrying  the  earth,  timbers,  cannon,  men,  and  everything  within  the  fort,  to 
a  distance  of  seventy-five  or  a  hundred  feet.  The  scene  was  magnificently  sublime, 
though  it  brought  death  and  destruction  to  all  within  it,  and  to  add  to  the  reality  of 
this  inferno  some  two  hundred  pieces  of  artillery  in  our  works  opened  fire  with 
death-dealing  missiles  upon  the  enemy's  line.  Under  this  fire  the  charging  columns 
advanced,  meeting  at  the  outset  a  serious  obstruction,  as  our  works  at  the  nearest 


The  Battle  of  the  Crater  (Petersburg,  Va.) — On  the  25th  of  June,  1864,  work  was  begun  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Henry  Pleasants,  of  the  Forty-eighth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  upon  the  structure 
known  as  the  Crater.  This  work,  approved  by  General  Burnside,  commander  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  had  the 
disapproval  of  General  Meade,  commander,  and  Major  Duane,  chief  engineer  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Accordingly  Colonel  Pleasants  was  forced  to  prosecute  his  work,  under  almost  insurmountable  disad 
vantage.  Then,  too,  General  Burnside's  plan  of  attack,  submitted  by  request  of  General  Meade,  was 
changed  in  several  very  material  particulars.  In  the  end,  so  far  as  the  construction  and  explosion  of  the 
mine  were  concerned,  the  effort  was  a  success.  Otherwise,  and  for  very  many  reasons,  it  was  a  great 
calamity  to  the  Union  Army.  The  Federal  losses  aggregated  over  7,000  men,  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 


—  385  — 

point,  being  lower  down  on  the  sloping  ground,  had  to  be  built  higher  than  usual  and 
had  not  been  prepared  for  scaling.  But  ladders  were  quickly  formed  by  some  of 
our  men  placing  their  bayonets  between  the  logs  and  holding  the  butt  end  of  the 
muskets  at  hip  and  on  shoulders,  up  which  the  others  climbed,  aided  by  officers 
standing  on  top  of  the  parapet.  But  as  rapidity  of  action  at  such  time  was  of  the 
greatest  importance,  Colonel  Marshall,  commanding  the  brigade,  and  standing  below 
within  the  works,  ordered  me  to  go  forward  with  what  men  I  had.  We  moved  with 
out  waiting  for  the  rest  of  our  command,  at  double-quick,  to  the  Crater,  and  planted 
our  flag  first  over  its  ruins,  capturing  many  prisoners  and  two  brass  field  pieces 
which  were  in  the  left  wing  of  the  fort  not  damaged  by  the  explosion.  I  decided 
that  the  magazines  must  be  near,  and  my  men  soon  uncovered  the  entrance,  which 
had  been  filled  with  falling  earth.  One  gun  was  soon  prepared  for  action,  and 
silenced  one  of  the  enemy's  guns  which  was  giving  us  canister.  Our  first  fire 
brought  in  a  number  of  prisoners  forced  to  surrender  or  meet  death. 

"  On  reaching  the  Crater,  an  appalling  sight  was  witnessed.  We  realized  some 
thing  of  the  terrible  effect  which  the  explosion  of  so  much  powder,  placed  twenty- 
five  feet  directly  under  the  fort,  must  cause.  We  found  an  excavation  some  thirty 
feet  deep,  sixty  feet  wide,  and  probably  130  feet  long.  One  huge  lump  of  red  clay 
was  thrown  on  the  surface  facing  our  own  works  ;  broken  guns,  timbers,  sand  bags, 
men  buried  in  every  conceivable  position,  some  with  an  arm,  hand  or  head  only 
uncovered ;  others  with  feet  uppermost,  and  still  others  on  top  of  the  fallen  earth, 
with  bones  broken.  One  had  fallen  to  the  bottom  of  a  shaft  twelve  feet  deep,  at  the 
entrance  of  a  countermining  tunnel,  toward  our  lines. 

"  We  were  not  able  to  learn,  nor  had  we  time  to  explore  its  extent,  but  were  in 
formed  by  a  captured  lieutenant  that  two  such  shafts  had  been  sunk,  tunnels 
being  worked  at  the  time,  and,  had  they  gone  deep  enough,  would  have  discovered 
our  own. 

"  We  were  forced  to  pass  through  the  Crater,  climb  the  opposite  slanting  wall, 
and  over  the  crest  to  traverses  beyond,  where  our  men  received  the  fire  of  the  Con 
federates  from  whom,  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  we  captured  a  Confederate 
battle  flag. 

"But  in  the  meantime  the  enemy  had  not  been  idle.  A  battery  had  been 
brought  up  from  the  left  to  a  position  out  of  range  of  our  artillery,  and  opened  fire 
with  grape  and  canister  on  our  troops,  and  sweeping  the  crest  of  the  Crater,  aided 
also  by  the  guns  in  the  two  forts  on  our  right,  and  one  on  the  left  flank,  re-enforce 
ments  having  been  thrown  into  the  Confederate  main  line  on  both  flanks,  their 
terrific  and  incessant  fire  concentrated  upon  that  point  rendered  it  impossible  for 
us  to  advance  and  deploy. 

"A  brigade  of  General  Mahone's  Confederate  division  advanced  to  a  charge, 
during  which  their  battery  had  to  withhold  fire,  giving  us  an  opportunity  to  bring 
into  action  one  of  the  captured  guns,  and  by  turning  it  upon  this  column  efficient  aid 


—  386  — 


was  rendered  to  our  infantry  in  repulsing  this  first  effort  to  dislodge  us.  The 
ammunition  from  the  rebel  magazine  being  nearly  exhausted,  and  our  gunners  too 
exposed  in  working  it  in  plain  view  and  range  of  the  enemy,  we  were  compelled  to 
discontinue  its  use,  and  soon  thereafter  Mahone's  entire  Confederate  division 

advanced  and  charged  our  colored  troops,  who  had 
done  splendid  fighting,  and,  being  now  compressed 
to  a  small  space  with  no  protection  on  front  nor 
flank,  were  forced  back,  carrying  the  other  troops 
with  them  to  our  main  line. 


"A  SHELL   EXPLODED 
AT   HIS  FEET." 

"I  passed  through  the  Crater  along  the  rear  wall  to  the  wing  where  I  had  left  the 
two  captured  guns  in  charge  of  a  sergeant  and  detachment.  The  entrance,  a  narrow 
passageway,  was  covered  by  rebel  sharpshooters,  and  General  Hartranft  called 
out  quickly  to  me  to  drop  down  and  crawl  in.  I  and  my  orderly,  Corporal  Stanford 
Bigelow,  passed  through  safely. 

"I  found  Generals  Potter,  Hartranft,  Griffin,  and  one  or  two  others;  General 
Bartlett  was  in  the  pit  of  the  Crater,  shot  through  his  artificial  leg,  and  unable  to 


—  387- 


walk,  thus  preventing  his  escape.  The  rebels  were  then  on  all  sides,  except  that 
fronting  our  lines,  and  firing  into  the  Crater.  Our  men  still  within  it  were  placed 
along  the  rear  and  flank  crest  to  keep  them  back ;  several  were  thus  killed,  shot 
through  the  head  ;  these  would  fall  backward,  and  if  they  did  not  roll  to  the  bot 
tom  of  the  pit,  laid  with  head  toward  it,  so  that  the  blood  ran  down  its  sloping  walls 
in  small  rivulets  to  the  bottom,  where  it  formed  pools  before  its  absorption  by  the 
red  clay. 

"  At  this  time  the  pit  and  its  sides  were  filled  with  dead  and  wounded  who  could 
not  escape  capture  or  death.  Intense  suffering  was  being  caused  from  want  of 
water  and  surgeons  ;  and  unprotected  from  the  sun,  with  not  a  breath  of  air  stirring 
in  that  hell  hole,  many  must  have  died  under  the  torture,  and  later,  many  more, 
still  living,  it  is  believed,  were  buried  therein  by  the  Confederates.  If  the  sight 
was  appalling  to  iron  nerves,  what  must  it  have  been  to  those  inside,  awaiting  death 
so  heroically? 

"Then  we  turned  our  gaze  to  the  open  field  between  the  lines,  over  which  we 
had  advanced  at  daylight,  now  strewn  with  the  bodies  of  hundreds  of  our  dead  and 
dying,  white  and  colored,  with  the  hot  midday  rays  of  a  July  sun  beating  mercilessly 
down  upon  them,  which  was  still  swept  by  the  concentrated  cross-fire  of  the  enemy's 
artillery  and  infantry,  over  which  it  seemed  impossible  for  one  to  pass  and  escape 
death.  After  remaining  there  for  some  time  in  the  stifling  heat  amid  such  scenes 
of  carnage  and  suffering,  and  realizing  that  a  protracted  stay  would  probably  add  to 
the  already  numerous  prisoners  taken  by  the  enemy,  or  lengthen  our  long  death 
roll,  I  decided  to  make  an  attempt  to  reach  at  the  nearest  point,  our  lines,  over 
which  I  could  see  my  own  regimental  flag  floating  in  the  slight  sultry  breeze,  in 
dicating  its  direction,  which  was  favorable  to  my  plan  already  quickly  formed  of 
releasing  those  general  officers  and  all  others  not  seriously  wounded.  On  inform 
ing  them  of  my  decision,  they  protested,  and  endeavored  to  convince  me  of  the 
great  danger  and  almost  certain  death  to  go  across  that  field  under  such  a  fire.  I 
replied  that  it  was  sure  death  or  starvation  in  rebel  prisons,  to  remain,  and  I  pre 
ferred  to  take  the  risk  then.  After  watching  the  explosion  of  shell  and  noting  the 
point  of  its  striking  the  ground,  I  gave  word  to  my  orderly  that  on  the  explosion  of 
the  next  I  would  make  the  start,  he  to  follow  a  short  distance  in  my  rear,  so 
we  should  not  be  in  line,  and  we  could  pass  beyond  that  point  before  another 
explosion  and  before  the  range  could  be  changed.  The  rebels  saw  us  right  after  the 
start,  but  passing  through  showers  of  bullets  we  reached,  with  a  bound,  the  crest  of 
our  works  and  sprang  from  the  parapet  within,  safe  and  unscathed.  I  immedi 
ately  ordered  my  men,  who  had  received  ammunition  and  were  prepared  to  hold 
these  works,  to  open  a  hot  fire  on  the  enemy  to  the  right  of  the  Crater,  who,  ap 
parently  expecting  another  attack,  replied  vehemently,  and  very  soon  the  field  was 
covered  with  smoke,  through  the  pall  of  which  every  general  left  in  the  angle  or 
wing  escaped  in  safety  to  our  lines." 


—  388  — 

Four  months  after  this  battle  Captain  Charles  H.  Houghton  was  assigned  to  duty 
at  Fort  Haskell,  Va.,  as  commander  of  the  post,  the  garrison  consisting  of  350 
men,  including  several  batteries  of  artillery.  About  this  time  printed  copies  of  an 
order  of  amnesty  issued  by  General  Grant,  providing  that  deserters  coming  into  the 
Union  lines,  bringing  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  would  be  paid  a  specified  sum, 
and,  on  taking  the  oath  not  to  again  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  would 
be  furnished  free  transportation  north,  had  been  freely  circulated  along  the  Confed- 
e'rate  lines.  Through  the  operation  of  this  very  order,  the  Confederate  general, 
Gordon,  succeeded  in  entering  the  Union  lines  in  his  night  attack  on  Fort  Sted- 
man  on  the  early  morning  of  March  25,  1865 — the  last  general  assault  by  Lee's 
army  on  the  Federal  intrenchments. 

General  Gordon  decided  to  make  his  assault  from  Colquitt's  Salient,  a  point  not 
more  than  200  yards  from  the  Federal  lines,  with  a  force  of  about  12,000  infantry 
supported  by  a  large  cavalry  force  and  with  a  heavy  force  in  reserve.  Shortly 
after  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  when  the  darkness  was  intense,  a  file 
of  100  picked  men  advanced  from  the  Confederate  lines  and,  utilizing  the  tenor  of  the 
amnesty  order,  the  first  man  called  out :  "  Don't  shoot ;  we  want  to  come  in."  In 
this  way  the  sentinel  did  not  fire  and  was  immediately  killed  by  a  noiseless  bayonet 
thrust.  Aided  by  the  darkness,  and  followed  by  detachments  to  cut  away  the  abatis, 
the  force  of  the  enemy  grew  until,  haying  the  strength  of  an  assaulting  column, 
they  attacked  that  part  of  the  unoccupied  works  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Battery  Ten, 
next  north  of  Fort  Stedman.  Here  they  were  met  by  a  portion  of  the  Fourteenth 
New  York  Artillery,  garrisoning  the  section  of  the  line  which  was  in  position.  Cap 
tain  Cleary,  Lieutenant  Thomson  and  Sergeant  Delack  hauled  one  gun  to  the  sally 
port  and  opened  on  the  assailants,  capturing  several  prisoners  and  the  flag  of  the 
Twenty-Sixth  South  Carolina  Infantry.  Lieutenant  E.  B.  Nye,  commanding  the 
section  of  artillery  in  Battery  Ten,  was  shot  down  while  gallantly  defending  his 
guns. 

Commandant  Houghton,  two  days  previous  to  Gordon's  assault  on  Stedman,  had 
added  60,000  rounds  of  ammunition  for  all  arms  to  his  magazine  supply,  and  on  the 
eve  of  the  25th  had  advised  his  officers  to  be  ready  to  resist  an  attack  very  early  the 
next  morning.  When  asked  for  his  reasons  for  having  such  an  opinion,  he  said  his 
premonition  was  strong  and  unexplainable  and  that  he  was  advising  extraordinary 
precautions,  as  he  felt  that  they  were  necessary. 

About  three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Sylvester  E.  Hough,  the  last  watch  on  the 
outer  post,  saw  blue  lights  flashing  along  the  rebel  picket  pits  and  heard  the  sound 
of  chopping  on  the  lines.  He  fired  a  signal  gun,  and  as  a  more  rapid  fire  than  usual 
was  heard  along  the  left  front  of  Fort  Stedman  the  men  in  Fort  Haskell  were  form 
ing  in  line  and  answering  the  roll  call.  Captain  Houghton  hurried  to  the  banquette 
on  the  right  flank  of  his  fort  and  at  once  saw  that  the  enemy  were  on  the  left  flank 
of  Stedman,  between  the  two  forts.  Word  came  that  the  Confederates  were  stealing 
along  in  the  dark  toward  the  front  of  Fort  Haskell,  at  which  the  captain  ordered  his 


-389  — 

men  to  their  positions  on  the  banquette  of  the  front  parapet.  There,  cautioning  his 
men  to  reserve  their  fire  till  he  gave  the  command,  the  garrison  stood  silently  in  the 
darkness,  with  one  of  Captain  Werner's  guns  loaded  with  case  shot,  and  trained  on 
the  opening  of  the  abatis  through  which  the  Union  pickets  passed  in  and  out. 

As  Captain  Houghton  and  his  men  stood  there  in  enforced  silence,  the  Confed 
erate  column  in  double  rank  reached  the  abatis  and  their  commanders  could  be 
heard  cautioning  the  men  to  move  more  quietly  and  steadily,  and,  "  we'll  have  their 
works — steady  men,  steady." 

"  Wait,"  whispered  Captain  Houghton,  "  wait  till  you  can  see  them  ;  then  fire." 

"  Steady,  men,  steady,"  again  whispered  the  Confederate  leader  as  the  Union 
soldiers  waited  breathless  and  with  leveled  muskets. 

"  Fire ! "  shouted  Captain  Houghton,  and  a  terrific  volley  from  cannon  and 
muskets,  heralded  by  a  single,  awful  crash,  swept  along  the  ranks  of  the  astonished 
band.  Surprised,  almost  demoralized,  the  enemy  fell  back  a  short  distance  to  reform 
and  advance  again  up  the  slope.  As  before,  they  were  received  with  a  concerted  vol 
ley  from  cannon  and  musketry,  to  once  more  go  reeling  to  the  rear.  Then  what 
were  left  quickly  divided  into  small  squads  and  attempted  by  making  simultaneous 
attacks  at  different  points  to  carry  the  fort,  but  most  of  them  were  killed  for  their 
folly. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see  that  the  American  flag  was  still  flying  over 
Fort  Haskell,  all  the  artillery  of  the  Confederate  works  and  the  captured  guns  in 
Fort  Stedman  and  Batteries  Eleven  and  Twelve  were  turned  in  a  concentrated  fire 
on  Captain  Houghton  and  his  gallant  garrison,  while  the  Third  New  Jersey  Bat 
tery,  in  position  at  embrazures  on  the  right  flank  and  on  parapet,  was  firing  shell 
and  case-shot  into  the  enemy. 

The  rebels  made  three  furious  attacks,  but  were  driven  back  in  confusion  each 
time.  Up  to  this  time  the  garrison  had  been  fighting  almost  alone,  but  now  they 
had  been  joined  by  Major  Randall  and  a  few  who  had  escaped  from  Fort  Stedman, 
and  small  detachments  from  other  regiments  had  come  in.  However,  on  the  other 
hand,  a  Union  reserve  artillery  battery  near  Meade's  Station  began  firing  upon  Fort 
Haskell,  under  the  mistaken  notion  that  the  fort  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy. 
Color-bearer  Robert  Kiley  with  colors  and  a  guard  was  sent  out  under  fire  to  the 
rear  to  signal  the  battery  to  cease  firing.  Four  of  the  color-guard  were  shot  down. 

During  the  second  charge  by  the  enemy  on  his  right  flank  and  rear  Captain 
Houghton,  while  standing  near  his  colors  on  the  banquette,  had  his  right  leg  shat 
tered  by  a  fragment  from  a  shell  which  exploded  at  his  feet,  while  other  frag 
ments  wounded  his  right  hand  severely.  He  was  immediately  carried  to  a  bomb 
proof  facing  the  parapet,  where  he  lay,  watching  and  directing  his  men.  The  pro 
posed  capture  of  Port  Haskell  resulted  in  a  complete  failure. 

Captain  Houghton  was  removed  to  a  field  hospital  and  his  leg  was  amputated  at 
the  thigh.  He  recovered  and  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Fort  Reno,  to  be  honorably 
discharged  several  months  later. 


—  390  — 


THE   GALLANT  COLONEL  AND  HIS  BRAVE  ADJUTANT 


DELEVAN  BATES, 

Colonel,  30th  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Highest  rank  attained :    Bvt.  Brig-Gen. 

Born  in  Schoharie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1840. 


A  BOUT  two  hours  after  the  explosion  of  the  mine,  Gen- 
**  eral  Edward  Ferrero,  who  had  expressed  the 
opinion  that  it  would  be  inadvisable  to  take  his  division 
of  colored  troops  to  the  Crater,  was  peremptorily  ordered 
by  General  Burnside  to  lead  his  division  at  once  into 
the  "hell's  hole."  In  compliance  with  this  order  the 
Thirtieth  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry  immediately  advanced, 
led  by  its  gallant  commander,  Colonel  Delevan  Bates. 
The  attack  is  described  as  follows : 

"Under  the  range  of  a  score  of  cannon  with  a  per 
fect  maelstrom  of  rebel  lead  sweeping  the  area,  the  col 
ored  men  went  with  a  dash  against  the  line  of  earthworks 
filled  with  the  veterans  of  many  battle-fields.  Their 
bravery  was  of  the  highest  grade  and  before  the  charge 
was  ended  two  hundred  yards  of  breastworks,  covered 
ways  and  bomb  proofs  were  captured  in  a  hand-to-hand 

combat  and  several  hundred  prisoners  with  a  stand  of  colors  W7ere  sent  to  the  rear. 
"At  this  juncture  there  came  orders  for  another  charge  on  a  Confederate  battery 
several  hundred  yards  nearer  the  city  of  Petersburg.  Again  the  Thirtieth,  led  by 
its  commander,  was  under  way.  Subjected  to  a  galling  fire  from  batteries  on 
the  flanks  and  from  infantry  fire  in  front  and  partly  on  the  flank,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  execute  the  order.  Colonel  Bates  was  shot  through  the  head,  dangerously, 
but  not  fatally;  Major  Leeke  was  killed  ;  Captain  Seagraves  had  his  leg  shattered  by  a 
bullet  but,  refusing  to  surrender,  killed  and  wounded  six  Confederates,  and  was  found 

with  seven  deadly  wounds  on  his  person.  His  men 
fought  for  his  body  like  tigers,  but  without  success, 
several  of  them  being  found  dead  by  his  side.  The 
color-guards  were  annihilated,  one  after  another  seizing 
the  flag  as  their  comrades  fell  dead  and,  finally  broken 
up  and  in  disorder,  the  rest  fell  back  to  the  line  from 
whence  they  started. 

"After  Colonel  Bates  was  wounded  and  Major  Leeke 
killed,  Adjutant  Andrew  Davidson,  assisted  by  the  re 
maining  company  officers,  made  a  most  heroic  effort  to 
rally  the  broken  ranks  of  his  regiment  from  the  desper 
ate  countercharge  of  the  enemy  and  was  the  last  officer 
to  abandon  the  recaptured  position  and  fall  back  to  the 
Union  line." 


ANDREW  DAVIDSON, 


Adjutant,  80th  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Highest  rank  attained :    Captain. 

Born  in  Scotland  in  1840. 


—  392  — 


Eight  company  officers  were  killed  or  wounded  and  two  were  taken  prisoners; 
while  212  enlisted  men  of  the  regiment  were  killed  or  wounded.  This  was  the 
record  of  a  body  of  troops  never  under  heavy  fire  before,  a  regiment  of  heroes,  led  by 
officers  who  know  no  fear. 


A  BAYONET  CHARGE    PUT  THE   REBELS  TO   FLIGHT 


ALBERT  D.  WRIGHT, 

Captain,  Co.  G,  43d  U.  S.  Colored  Inf. 

Born  in  Elkland,  T:oga  Co.,  Pa., 

Dec.  10,  1844. 


A  NOTHER  body  of  colored  troops,  the  Forty-third  U.  S. 
*»  Colored  Infantry,  distinguished  itself  at  the  Mine, 
and  one  of  their  officers,  Captain  Albert  D.  Wright,  of 
Company  G,  earned  his  Medal  of  Honor  on  that  mem 
orable  occasion,  which  he  himself  recalls  as  follows : 

"At  the  time  of  the  explosion,  our  brigade  was  strung 
out  in  the  'covered  way'  leading  to  the  fort,  with  the 
Forty-third  Regiment  in  advance.  As  our  troops  crossed 
the  space  between  our  lines  and  the  Confederates',  at 
this  point  not  more  than  one  hundred  yards  apart,  they 
were  exposed  to  a  scattering  fire  of  musketry,  and 
instead  of  continuing  through  the  Crater  directly  to 
Petersburg,  as  planned,  huddled  into  the  Crater  and 
stopped,  while  the  Confederates  fled  from  the  breast 
works,  expecting  other  explosions.  When  the  rebels  found  that  none  followed,  and 
their  lines  were  not  occupied,  except  in  the  Crater,  they  rallied,  and,  manning  their 
guns,  began  a  horrible  slaughter  of  our  men,  by  dropping  shells  into  the  Crater  from 
every  battery  within  reach,  and  from  a  number  of  little  Cohorn  mortars  in  the 
vicinity. 

"Not  quite  an  hour  had  passed  when  we  were  hurried  to  the  ravine  immediately 
behind  our  works,  massed  and  ordered  to  perform  the  same  manoeuvre  that  the 
white  troops  preceding  us  had  been  ordered  to  execute.  The  narrow  space  between 
the  lines  was  almost  taken  up  by  a  line  of  abatis  and  one  of  chevaux-de-frise,  in 
front  of  and  on  each  side  of  the  breastworks.  These  lines  were  impassable,  unless 
the  wires  binding  them  together  could  be  cut  and  the  heavy  timbers  and  tree-tops 
removed,  an  operation  impossible  to  perform  in  the  face  of  a  line  of  such  men  as  we 
had  to  meet.  The  break  in  our  line  was  wide  enough  only  for  four  men  to  pass  out 
abreast,  while  the  break  in  the  Confederate  lines  was  only  where  the  abatis  and 
chevaux-de-frise  had  been  covered  with  earth  from  the  explosion  ;  consequently  we 
were  obliged  to  cross  in  column  by  fours,  as  if  we  were. marching  along  a  road. 

"  The  balance  of  the  regiment  could  not  remain  exposed  to  the  awful  fire  which 
enfiladed  them  on  both  sides  and  for  some  reason  they  filed  to  the  right  and  went 


—  393  — 

between  the  Confederate  lines  and  ours.  In  a  very  few  moments  I  saw  we  were 
simply  being  slaughtered  without  a  chance  of  defense  and,  seeing  a  little  path 
through  the  Confederate  lines  of  abatis  and  chevaux-de-frise,  I  crawled  through  to 
the  Confederate  breastworks,  lay  down  on  the  outside  and  began  firing  my  pistol 
alongside  of  every  gun  I  could  reach,  as  they  moved  them  over  to  fire  at  our  men. 
The  momentary  sight  I  got  of  our  fellows,  bravely  trying  to  rally,  drove  me  frantic. 
Six  of  my  company  had  followed  me  through  the  little  path,  and  turning  to  -them  I 
said:  'We  cannot  go  back;  they  will  kill  us!  If  we  lie  here  they  will  capture  us, 
and  they  say  they  will  take  no  nigger  prisoners  or  white  officers  with  them.  Let's 
jump  in.' 

"They  replied:  'All  right,  Cap'n.'  I  told  them  to  fix  bayonets,  gave  the  word, 
and  in  we  went. 

"It  was  a  surprise.  We  were  stronger  just  there  than  they  were.  The  colored 
men  killed  everyone  writhin  reach,  instantly.  This  created  a  panic,  and,  thinking  of 
our  poor  fellows  in  the  field,  we  turned  to  the  right,  the  men  yelling  like  fiends  and 
bayoneting  everyone  they  could  reach.  We  simply  cleaned  out  the  breastworks  for 
the  whole  length  of  our  regiment,  the  Confederates  evidently  mistaking  our  rush 
for  a  charge  by  the  troop  they  knew  to  be  in  the  Crater. 

"  While  rushing  down  the  breastwork,  I  saw  a  flag  sticking  out  of  a  hole  behind 
the  works.  Springing  on  top  of  the  earth  around  the  hole,  and,  pointing  my  empty 
revolver  down,  I  drove  out  the  color-sergeant  and  guard  of  six  men,  took  the  flag 
and  sent  it  across  to  our  line.  This  occupied  only  a  moment,  after  which  we  con 
tinued  driving  the  enemy  out  of  the  works  until  we  came  to  an  angle  around  the 
head  of  the  ravine,  the  line  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ravine  continuing  straight 
with  the  line  we  had  cleared  out.  There  it  was  that  the  enemy  could  see  how  small 
our  force  was,  and  they  at  once  opened  fire  on  us.  From  where  we  were  I  could  see 
into  Petersburg,  there  being  no  other  works  or  men  between  ourselves  and  that  city. 

"  While  throwing  sand-bags  across  the  rifle  pit  to  protect  ourselves  from  fire,  I 
was  wounded  in  the  arm  and  went  back  to  the  hospital,  and  on  my  way  back  I  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  what  was  left  of  our  regiment  crawling  through  the  abatis 
and  coming  into  the  rifle  pits  in  safety." 


—  394  — 


TOO  YOUNG  FOR  ENLISTMENT,  BUT  SERVED 


A 


NATHANIEL  McL.  GWYNNE, 

Private,  Troop  H,  13th  Ohio  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Urbana,  Ohio,  July  5, 1849. 


MERE  BOY,  Nathaniel  McL.  Gwynne,  applied  for  en 
listment  at  Cincinnati  in  the  spring  of  1864. 
The  recruiting  officer  looked  at  the  15-year-old,  shook 
his  head  and  said  :  "  You  had  better  stay  at  home,  my 
boy ;  you're  too  young."  He  was  not  disheartened  by 
this  refusal,  but  went  to  several  officers,  then  about  to 
take  the  field,  begging  for  permission  to  go  along.  One 
officer,  a  captain  of  Company  H,  Thirteenth  Ohio  Cav 
alry,  was  so  favorably  impressed  with  the  boy's  desire  to 
serve  his  country  that  he  permitted  him  to  accompany 
his  command,  and  from  that  time  on  young  Gwynne 
regularly  performed  the  duties  of  a  private,  participat 
ing  in  all  the  engagements  of  the  regiment,  including 
the  one  at  Petersburg  July  30. 

When  the  regiment  was  about  to  make  a  charge  on  a  battery  holding  a  com 
manding  position  on  Fort  Hill,  the  captain  noticed  young  Gwynne  in  line,  and  said 
to  him :  "Young  man,  remember  you  are  not  mustered  in.  You  had  better  stay 
behind." 

"  But  that's  not  what  I'm  here  for ! "  responded  the  boy. 

Just  then  the  bugler  sounded  the  charge,  and  away  went  the  troop,  young 
Gwynne  with  it,  across  a  ravine,  up  the  hill,  straight  to  the  mouths  of  the  cannon, 
where  a  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  color-sergeant  of  the  Thirteenth 
was  shot  down  and  the  colors  captured.  The  enemy  were  the  stronger ;  the  attack 
failed.  The  colors  captured,  a  retreat  followed. 

Half  the  distance  over  which  the  charge  had  been  made  was  covered  in  the  re 
treat  when  a  horse  wheeled  out  of  line,  his  head  toward  the  enemy,  and  charged 
directly  toward  the  battery.  It  was  young  Gwynne's  horse.  Those  who  saw  the 
dash  at  first  wondered  whether  he  had  lost  control  of  his  horse ;  then,  whether  his 
reason  had  deserted  him,  for  he  was  guiding  his  horse  with  a  firm  hand.  On  he 
went,  heedless  of  the  shower  of  bullets  from  the  infantry,  supporting  the  battery, 
riding  into  the  midst  of  it,  and  directly  to  the  point  where  his  regimental  colors 
were  held,  all  the  time  urging  his  horse  to  its  utmost  speed.  Reaching  the  colors, 
he  seized  them  from  their  captor,  and,  turning  his  horse's  head,  started  back  to  his 
regiment.  Immediately  every  gun  of  the  enemy  was  trained  on  him.  He  had  not 


Fort  Hill,  or  "Hell,"  as  it  was  familiarly  known  to  the  Union  soldiers,  was  one  of  the  numerous 
fortifications  in  front  of  Petersburg,  where  some  of  the  fiercest  fighting  took  place  on  the  30th  of  July,  after 
the  mine  explosion. 


"IMMEDIATELY  EVERY  GUN   WAS  TRAINED    UPON   HIM." 


—  396  — 

gone  far,  however,  before  the  arm  supporting  the  flag  was  shot  away,  almost  tear 
ing  it  from  its  socket,  and  the  flag  went  down.  He  stopped  his  horse,  took  the  reins 
in  his  teeth,  picked  up  the  flag  and  dashed  away  toward  his  regiment.  Again  he 
was  shot,  this  time  in  the  leg,  but  pluckily  he  rode  on  until  he  reached  his  comrades, 
whereupon  he  turned  the  flag  over  to  them,  and  fell  unconscious  to  the  ground. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Gwynne  was  placed  on  the  muster-roll  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Ohio  Cavalry,  his  muster-in  to  date  from  the  time  of  his  application  for 
enlistment. 


CLEVER  STRATEGY  FOOLED 
THE  REBELS 


THOMAS  R.  KERR, 

Captain,  Co.  C,  14th  Perm.  Cavalry. 

Born  at  Coleraine.  Ireland, 

April  24, 1843. 


IN  the  extreme  eastern  part  of  West  Virginia  lies  the 
*  little  town  of  Moorefield.  Here  in  the  evening  of 
August  6,  1864,  the  Confederate  general,  McCauseland. 
was  resting  his  division,  which  was  on  its  way  back  from 
Maryland  after  the  burning  of  the  village  of  Chambers- 
burg,  and  consisted  of  McCauseland's  Brigade,  Gen 
eral  Bradley  Johnson's  Brigade  of  Cavalry,  Gilmor's 
Mounted  Battalion  and  the  Baltimore  Battery — in  all, 
about  3,200  men. 

At  dark  on  the  same  day  General  William  W.  Averell 
arrived  with  about  1,700  men  of  his  division  after  a  weary  pursuit  of  150  miles.  This 
division  had  been  engaged  since  the  spring  of  the  year  in  long  and  toilsome  expedi 
tions — twice  to  the  Tennessee  River  and  to  Lynchburg,  participating  in  many  combats 
and  skirmishes,  so  that  it  was  in  poor  condition  for  active  movements,  either  on  the 
march  or  in  battle.  At  the  same  time  it  was  absolutely  essential  to  a  successful 
attack  upon  the  Confederates  that  they  should  be  surprised  and  fought  with  the  ut 
most  energy.  Vigilant  scouts  guarded  the  front  of  Averell's  force,  preventing  any 
intelligence  of  its  coming  from  reaching  the  enemy,  and  at  the  same  time  ascertain 
ing  McCauseland's  position. 


General  Averell,  learning  that  General  McCauseland  was  retreating  toward  Moorefield,  W.  Va.,  pursued 
and  overtook  him  at  Oldfields,  three  miles  east  of  Moorefield,  on  the  7th  of  August,  1864,  effecting  a  com 
plete  surprise,  routing  and  dispersing  the  whole  command  and  capturing  420  prisoners,  four  guns,  large 
quantities  of  small  arms  and  400  horses  and  equipments.  The  Federals  lost  twenty-eight  in  killed  and 
wounded ;  the  enemy's  loss  is  unknown.  After  the  engagement  the  enemy  retreated  by  different  roads 
into  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  General  Averell  returned  to  New  Creek  with  his  prisoners  and  captured 
property,  from  which  point  he  received  orders  to  report  to  General  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
near  Harper's  Ferry. 


—  397  — 

McCauseland's  Brigade  with  Gilmor's  Battalion  and  two  guns  of  the  battery 
were  encamped  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Potomac,  next  to  Moorefield,  while  a  mile 
away  Johnson's  Brigade  and  two  guns  wrere  encamped  on  the  north  side  of  the 
stream.  After  dark  Averell  sent  160  men  by  a  mountain  road  around  the  east  of 
Moorefield  to  blockade  the  highway  and  prevent  the  escape  of  the  enemy  toward 
Winchester — fifty  miles  away  —  to  rejoin  Early.  Accompanied  by  Captain  Thomas 
R.  Kerr  and  a  few  chosen  men,  Averell  proceeded  on  foot  in  the  darkness,  which  was 
deepened  by  a  fog,  and  captured  the  enemy's  mounted  videttes,  from  whom  was 
learned  the  position  of  a  Confederate  picket  and  fifteen  men  under  Lieutenant  Carter. 
Captain  Kerr  with  fifteen  mounted  men  made  a  wide  detour,  striking  a  road  beyond 
the  picket.  While  returning  toward  them  he  was  challenged  and,  answering 
"  Relief,"  he  drew  near,  dismounted  and  in  a  minute  had  the  picket  disarmed  and 
under  guard.  Then  General  Averell  sent  Captain  Kerr  and  his  detachment  to  cap 
ture  and  bring  back  into  the  Union  line  a  picket  that  was  expected  to  arrive  soon. 
About  a  mile  away  the  captain  was  again  challenged  and  replied :  "  Picket  coming 
in."  After  which  he  and  his  party  at  once  surrounded  the  enemy's  picket  and  com 
pelled  its  surrender.  The  officer  in  charge,  however,  broke  away  in  an  effort  to 
escape,  but  Captain  Kerr  sprang  after  him  and  quickly  subdued  him  with  his  sabre. 
Thus  the  road  to  Moorefield  was  clear  and  not  a  shot  had  been  fired. 

When  the  head  of  General  Averell's  column  had  reached  a  point  within  500  yards 
of  the  enemy,  it  was  not  yet  light  enough  to  see  clearly  ten  yards.  Two  Confed 
erate  troopers  sent  to  recall  patrol  and  pickets  met  General  Averell  in  the  road  and 
informed  him  that  their  brigade  was  saddled  and  ready  to  move.  Quickly  placing 
one  column  in  the  road  and  one  in  the  fields  on  each  side,  all  following  a  line  de 
ployed  in  sets  of  fours,  General  Averell  placed  Captain  Kerr  with  his  company  in 
advance  of  the  center  column.  Only  one  squadron  could  be  left  in  the  rear  to  guard 
the  prisoners.  He  then  gave  orders  to  ride  over  Johnson's  Brigade,  using  only  the 
sabre,  and  to  continue  steadily  on  to  the  river,  break  through  it  and  capture  General 
McCauseland  himself. 

The  first  part  of  the  plan  was  executed,  but  the  one  squadron  left  behind  could 
not  hold  all  the  prisoners  taken  from  Johnson's  Brigade,  so  that  a  large  number  of 
them  escaped  through  the  cornfields  to  the  hills.  There  being  but  one  ford  at  the 
river  a  slight  delay  ensued,  giving  the  enemy  a  little  time  to  form  on  the  opposite 
side. 

Captain  Kerr  and  his  company  were  at  once  across,  however,  closely  followed  by 
the  other  troops.  The  early  morning  light  was  not  yet  clear  enough  to  distinguish 
individuals  more  than  100  yards  distant  so  that  Captain  Kerr,  challenged  by  the  first 
troops  he  met,  promptly  answered :  "  Gilmor's  Battalion ; "  but  as  that  particu 
lar  body  happened  to  be  the  challenging  party,  a  hot  fire  was  opened  on  Kerr's 
Company  as  it  charged.  A  bullet  struck  Captain  Kerr  in  the  face,  another  wounded 
him  in  the  thigh ;  his  horse  was  killed  and  fell  on  him,  but  his  men  went  on. 


—  399 


The  captain  extricated  himself  from  the  fallen  horse,  ran  to  the  color-bearer  of 
the  Eighth  Virginia  Confederate  Regiment,  who  was  striving  to  get  to  horse,  struck 
down  the  man,  took  his  colors  and  horse,  mounted  and  rejoined  his  company  through 
the  fleeing  remnants  of  the  enemy. 

The  sun  was  just  up  when  all  was  over  ;  more  than  150  of  the  enemy  were  killed 
and  wounded.  Three  stands  of  colors,  the  battery,  nearly  500  officers  and  men  with 
nearly  1,000  horses  and  small  arms  were  captured,  and  the  enemy  were  dispersed  to 
the  mountains. 


"WELL  DONE,  TAYLOR" 


r  the  morning  of  August  18,  1864,  at 
the  Weldon  Railroad,  Private  Joseph 
Taylor,  of   Company  E,  Seventh  Rhode  Isl 
and  Infantry,  was  detached  from  his  company 
on  detail  as  mounted  orderly  at  brigade  head 
quarters  and  ordered  to  escort  Adjutant-Gen 
eral  Peleg  E.  Peckham  through  some  near-by 
timber. 

"The  day  was  very  hot  and  the  country  had 
been  fairly  flooded  by  rains,"  Private  Taylor 
narrates.  "  We  were  riding  quite  rapidly  and 
when  we  reached  the  woods  I  found  them  so 
dense  and  so  filled  writh  underbrush  that  it 
was  with  great  difficulty  I  followed  the  general. 
Every  now  and  then  the  limbs  and  branches 
of  the  brush  pushed  aside  by  my  leader  would 

spring  back,  striking  my  horse  in  the  face  so  that  I  could  not  make  it  keep  its  gait. 
Thus,  not  being  able  to  keep  up  with  the  general,  I  undertook  to  skirt  the  edge 
of  the  wood.  In  a  short  while  I  lost  sight  of  him,  but,  believing  that  I  would  soon 
see  him  again,  continued  on,  as  I  thought  I  could  hear  his  horse  going. 

"  Suddenly,  to  my  entire  surprise,  I  ran  against  a  Confederate  picket  post  of  three 
infantrymen,  who  appeared  to  be  as  greatly  surprised  as  myself.  Immediately  draw 
ing  my  revolver,  I  commanded  them  to  surrender  and  get  out  to  the  rear  as  quickly 
as  possible,  as  a  cavalry  charge  was  to  be  made  right  over  the  ground  where  we  were 
standing. 

"  I  did  not  know  whether  there  was  any  cavalry  within  ten  miles,  but  the  thought 
came  to  me  and  I  simply  said  it. 


JOSEPH  TAYLOR, 

Private,  Co.  E,  7th  R.  I.  Inf. 
Born  at  Pascoag,  R.  I.,  Feb.  6, 1817. 


—  400  — 


"The  three  men  had 
stacked  arms,  which 
I  ordered   them  to 
carry,  when   I    felt 
a  sharp  pain,  caused 
by  a  fourth  Confed 
erate,  whom  I  had 
overlooked,  lunging 
his  bayonet  through 
my    right  arm.     I 
at    once    emptied 
a  chamber  of   my 
revolver    into    his 
left  breast  and  he 
dropped.  Knowing 
that  my  shot  would 
give    an    alarm,   I 
ordered   my   three 
prisoners    forward, 
and,     revolver    in 
hand,  at  their  rear, 
I  rode  rapidly   to 
ward  our  line. 
"As  I  reached   head 
quarters    with    my   cap 
tives,  General    Curtin    asked 
with  much  surprise  where  I 
captured  these  men.     'Up  in 

the  brush,  general,'  I  answered.     '  Where  is  General  Peckham  ? '  asked  the  general, 
and  I  replied :     '  I  don't  know,  general ;  I  lost  him  in  the  brush.' 

"Just  then  Doctor  Blackwood,  of  our  staff,  came  up  and  asked:  'What's  the 
matter  with  your  arm,  Joe  ?'  'Nothing,  except  it  feels  a  little  warm.'  Then  I  saw 
that  the  blood  of  the  bayonet  wound  had  run  to  my  hand  and  over  my  revolver, 
which  I  was  still  holding.  Just  then  General  Peckham  rode  up  to  us  and,  being 
questioned  by  General  Curtin  as  to  where  I  had  captured  the  rebels,  he  said  :  '  I  do 
not  know — while  riding  through  the  brush 'with  Taylor  following  me,  as  I  supposed, 
I  suddenly  missed  him.  Two  or  three  minutes  later  I  heard  a  shot  to  my  left  and 
rear,  and,  thinking  that  by  getting  too  far  out  of  the  woods  Taylor  had  been  hurt,  I 
immediately  returned  to  see  about  the  matter.' 

"General  Curtin  ordered  the  prisoners  disarmed  and  said  to  me:  'Well  done 
Taylor,  you  will  get  a  Medal  of  Honor  for  this.' " 


I  EMPTIED  A  CHAMBER  OF  MY  REVOLVER  INTO  HIS  BREAST." 


—  401  — 

EQUAL  TO  THE  EMERGENCY 

T  NCLUDED  in  the  operations  against  Petersburg  was  General  Grant's  effort  to  cut  off 
*  the  line  of  supplies  for  the  Confederates  by  destroying  the  Weldon  Railroad. 
General  Warren,  to  whom  this  task  was  entrusted,  was  twice  fiercely  assaulted  by 
General  Lee's  army,  but  succeeded  in  holding  his  position  and  carrying  his  mission 
to  complete  success.  During  one  of  the  attacks  an  incident  occurred  of  which 
Private  Soloman  J.  Hottenstein,  of  Company  C,  One  hundred  and  seventh  Pennsyl 
vania  Infantry,  became  the  hero. 

The  Union  corps  had,  on  August  18,  1864,  made  a  descent  on  the  Weldon  Rail 
road  at  Yellow  House,  driving  in  the  Confederate  pickets.  When,  however,  the  enemy 
appeared  in  force,  the  One  hundred  and  seventh  Pennsylvania  was  thrown  out  and 
deployed  as  skirmishers  to  meet  them.  Then  the  fighting  became  general  and  very 
intense,  and  so  continued  until  darkness  had  set  in.  Still  the  Federals  held  the 
road  and,  under  cover  of  night,  threw  up  breastworks. 

At  2  P.  M.  the  following  day  another  attack  was 
made,  with  partial  success,  and  again,  two  hours  later, 
the  enemy  made  still  another  attack,  flanking  General 
Crawford's  Division,  taking  many  prisoners  and  com 
pelling  the  Union  forces  to  retreat.  In  this  series  of 
alternating  charges  and  countercharges,  attacks  and 
retreats,  the  two  forces  became  badly  intermingled,  and 
at  times  the  mix-up  was  so  bad  that  it  would  have 
been  a  difficult  matter  to  discern  the  men  of  the  two 

hostile  armies.     At  one  time,  however,  a  large  body  SYLVESTER  H.  MARTIN, 

of   Confederates  had  part  of  the   One   hundred  and       ueutenant.co.K.ssthpenn.  infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  :  Captain. 

seventh  Pennsylvania  surrounded  and  virtually  cap-        Bom  in  Chester  co.,pa.,  Aug.  O.IMI. 
tured.     Still  considerable  confusion  reigned,  especially 

in  the  ranks  of  the  Confederates,  who  at  this  particular  point  seemed  to  lack  the 
hand  of  a  leader,  who  could  bring  order  out  of  the  chaos  and  take  advantage  of  the 
predicament  of  the  Union  men.  On  the  other  hand  there  was  one  soldier  among 
the  surrounded  Federals  who  proved  to  be  fully  equal  to  the  emergency — he  was 
Private  Soloman  Hottenstein.  He  recognized  that  he  was  in  a  locality  which  he 
had  passed  and  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  day  before  while  foraging. 
Utilizing  this  very  opportune  knowledge,  he  decided  to  resort  to  a  ruse,  which  was  as 
clever  as  it  was  desperate,  to  extricate  himself  and  his  comrades  from  their  pre 
carious  position.  Espying  a  Confederate  color-bearer,  he  ran  up  to  him  and  said : 
"Give  me  that  flag!" 

The  rebel  complied. 

Then  waving  the  Confederate  colors  aloft,  he  shouted :  "  Come  on  boys ;  follow 
me ! "  And  for  the  Union  lines  he  headed  followed  by  his  comrades  and  several 


—  402  — 

hundred  Confederates,  who  fairly  fell  over  each  other  in  their  effort  to  fall  into  line 
and  follow  their  flag.  Bewildered  by  the  general  confusion,  the  hail  of  shot  and 
shell  from  all  directions,  misled  by  the  very  boldness  of  Private  Hottenstein's  move, 
they  marched  right  into  the  arms  of  the  Federal  troops,  realizing  their  fatal  mistake 
when  it  was  too  late  and  when  they  could  do  nothing  but  submit  to  capture. 

During  the  same  engagements  the  Eighty-eighth  Pennsylvania  and  Ninety- 
seventh  New  York  Infantry  regiments  found  themselves  in  the  same  position  as  the 
one  from  which  Private  Hottenstein  and  comrades  escaped. 

"  We  were,"  says  Lieutenant  Sylvester  H.  Martin,  of  Company  K,  Eighty-eighth 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  "  between  two  lines  of  the  enemy  and  entirely  isolated  from 
our  corps,  and  after  a  consultation  among  the  officers  of  both  regiments,  the  col 
onel  of  the  ninety-seventh  being  in  command,  decided  that  we  should  fight  our  way 
out.  Having  accomplished  this,  we  reached  our  rear  in  an  open  field,  but  were 
immediately  ordered  to  re-advance  and  recover  our  former  position. 

"The  missiles  were  now  coming  from  our  front.  Men  were  falling  fast ;  among 
them  was  the  commander  of  our  regiment,  pierced  through  the  face.  The  colonel 
in  command  of  the  two  regiments  then  called  for  an  officer  to  take  in  a  skirmish 
line,  and  send  word  back  to  him  whether  it  would  be  safe  to  advance  the  line. 

"  I  moved  forward  with  men  of  my  company  as  skirmishers,  reconnoitered  the 
position  and  made  it  possible  to  re-establish  the  line,  which  we  held  during  the  re 
mainder  of  that  action." 


TWO  OF  SHERIDAN'S  SCOUTS 


thrilling  adventures  of  two  of  General  Sheridan's 
scouts  form  an  interesting  chapter  of  the  episodes 
of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  One  of  the  scouts  was  Joseph 
E.  McCabe,  a  sergeant  in  the  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry  ;  the  other,  Archibald  H.  Rowand,  a  private  in 
Company  K,  First  West  Virginia  Cavalry,  the  former 
being  the  general's  chief  scout. 

Among  the  many  achievements  of  these  two  men,  the 
capture  of  the  Confederate  general,  Harry  Gilmor,  and 
staff  was  the  most  brilliant  and  consequential.     The  oc 
currence  dates  at  the  time  when  General  Sheridan  had 
his  headquarters  at  Winchester  during  the  winter  of  1864. 
It  was  Rowand  who  first  got  onto  the  trail  of  the  Confed 
erate  general,  who  in  a  mansion  near  Moorefield,  W.  Va.,  was  nursing  his  wounds 
received  at  the  battle  of  Winchester.    He  imparted  his  information  to  General  Sheri 
dan,  who  at  once  formulated  plans  for  the  capture  of  the  wounded  commander.    The 


JOSEPH  E.  McCABE, 

Sergeant,  17th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Bridge-water,  Pa..  June  6, 1841. 


—  403  — 

task  was  entrusted  to  McCabe,  chief  scout,  Major  Henry  H.  Young  with  a  detachment 
of  thirty  cavalrymen,  and  Rowand,  who  acted  as  guide.  After  a  ride  of  forty 
miles  the  party — all  dressed  as  Confederates  —  reached  the  general's  place  of  abode 
at  daybreak.  Approaching  the  house  cautiously,  Rowand  went  ahead,  overpowered 
the  sentinel  and  made  him  prisoner.  McCabe  and  Major  Young  followed  and  de 
manded  the  surrender  of  the  general  and  his  staff.  Resistance  being  out  of  question 
the  order  was  readily  complied  with,  and  thus  the  two  daring  scouts  were  able  to 
report  the  complete  success  of  their  mission  to  General  Sheridan  and  turn  over  to 
him  the  Confederate  commander. 

McCabe  was  the  leading  scout  in  still  another  important  capture — that  of  Gen 
eral  Rufus  Barringer. 

It  was  on  the  morning  of  April  6,  1865,  when  McCabe  and  five  companions,  all 
attired  in  Confederate  uniforms,  were  riding  along  on  their  way  to  Danville,  Va. 
Presently  they  met  a  group  of  four  Confederates,  whom  they  halted  and  engaged  in 
conversation.  The  Confederates  said  they  belonged  to  a  North  Carolina  brigade, 
and  McCabe  and  his  comrades  pretended  to  be  men  of  the  Ninth  Virginia.  They 
rode  along  together  till  they  were  joined  by  a  Confederate  officer  of  apparent  high 
rank.  He  revealed  himself  during  the  course  of  the  conversation  as  General  Bar- 
ringer.  McCabe  drew  from  the  unwary  rebels  much  valuable  information,  when, 
without  any  previous  warning,  he  presently  informed  the  general  and  his  men  of  his 
identity  and  demanded  their  surrender.  His  determined  attitude  completely  non 
plused  the  Confederates,  who  were  too  greatly  surprised  to  make  even  a  show  of 
resistance.  Only  one  rebel  escaped.  For  this  clever  capture  of  General  Barringer 
McCabe  was  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor 

Rowand's  other  great  feat  was  the  delivery  of  a  message  from  General  Sheridan 
to  General  Grant  in  1865. 

Sheridan  had  been  ordered  to  pass  around  to  the  west  of  Richmond  and  effect  a 
junction  with  Sherman  in  North  Carolina,  but  owing  to  heavy  rains  and  swollen 
streams  he  had  been  delayed  until  the  Confederates  had  time  to  throw  a  heavy  force 
in  his  front  and  prevent  his  advance,  a  fact  of  which  it  was  important  that  Grant 
should  l)e  notified.  Rowand  and  his  comrade,  James  A.  Campbell,  volunteered  to 
deliver  the  message,  and  shortly  thereafter,  dressed  as  Confederates,  they  each  re 
ceived  a  copy  of  the  message  written  on  tissue  paper  and  tightly  rolled  in  the  form 
of  a  small  pellet  inclosed  in  tin  foil.  Their  orders  were  to  deliver  the  message,  but 
in  case  of  capture  to  swallow  the  pellets  before  giving  them  up  to  the  enemy. 

The  journey  began  on  horseback  and  for  forty-eight  hours  they  were  in  the 
saddle,  during  which  time  they  entered  the  Confederate  lines  and  were  within 
eight  miles  of  Richmond.  They  met  and  conversed  with  a  chief  of  Confederate 
scouts  and  were  within  five  miles  of  the  James  River  when  some  of  the  scouts  of 
the  enemy  recognized  them  and  gave  chase.  Rowand  and  Campbell  put  the  spurs 
to  their  horses  and  reached  the  river  ahead  of  their  pursuers.  Here  they  abandoned 
the  horses  and  plunging  into  the  river  seized  a  floating  skiff  and  with  their  hands 


—  404  — 


paddled  so  rapidly,  going  diagonally  with  the  cur 
rent,  that  they  reached  the  opposite  shore  just  as  the 
enemy  reached  the  south  bank.  The  fugitives  were 
ordered  to  halt  and  shots  were  sent  after  them,  but  it 
only  stimulated  McCabe  and  his  comrade  to  greater 
exertions.  And  so,  with  the  enemy  coming  behind, 
the  two  made  a  run,  afoot,  of  about  ten  miles,  when 
they  reached  the  Union  lines. 

The  lieutenant  in  charge  of  the  picket  refused  to 
accept  their  statement  that  they  were  messengers 
from  Sheridan  and  was  inclined  to  treat  them  as 
spies.  Finally,  however,  he  consented  to  take  his 
prisoners  to  the  Colonel,  who  at  once  forwarded  them, 
under  escort,  to  Grant's  headquarters.  While  sitting 
at  Grant's  desk  waiting  for  the  general  to  appear, 
they  both  fell  asleep — the  first  time  in  over  two  days. 

Grant  coming  in,  awakened  Eowand  by  tapping  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  after  re 
ceiving  and  reading  the  dispatches  ordered  that  every  attention  be  paid  to  the  two 
young  soldiers. 

AN  IMPROVISED  BODYGUARD 


ARCHIBALD  H.  ROWAND,  Jr., 

Private,  Co.  K,  1st  W.  Va.  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  March  6, 1845. 


WHEN  on  the  30th  of  July,  1864,  the  Confederate  works  at  Petersburg  were  con 
verted  by  the  explosion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pleasants'  mine  into  the  hor 
rible  "Crater,"  Company  H,  of  the  Second  New  York  Mounted  Rifles,  dismounted, 
was  posted  about  100  feet  away  from  the  enemy's  works  and  with  the  crash  and 
tumult  of  the  explosion  they  received  the  order  to  charge  with  the  remainder  of 
the  brigade  across  a  small  rise  of  ground  and  take  position  at  the  first  line  of  the 
Confederate  defenses.  Second  Lieutenant  Harlan  J.  Swift,  of  Company  H,  a  medal 
winner  in  this  affair,  relates : 

"Of  course  it  was  hot  work,  but  was  in  no  way  a  surprise,  because  our  entire  line 
had  been  waiting  long  for  just  such  an  experience.  We  reached  the  objective  point 
in  short  order,  to  see  the  enemy  going  pell-mell  toward  their  second  line  of  defense, 
a  considerable  distance  away  on  the  Jerusalem  plank  road.  As  we  reached  the  top 
of  the  first  line  I  could  see  several  Confederates  not  far  off,  and,  calling  my  company 
to  halt,  I  sprinted  on  after  the  fugitives.  I  was  very  good  on  my  feet  and  soon 
overhauled  four  of  the  men  who,  with  guns  loaded  and  bayonets  fixed,  had  given  me 
such  a  stubborn  chase. 

"  Placing  the  muzzle  of  my  revolver  against  the  temple  of  one  of  the  'Johnnies' 
while  still  running,  I  ordered  the  four  to  surrender,  which  they  did  instantly,  fancy 
ing,  I  suppose,  that  1  had  my  whole  company  at  my  back.  Then  I  formed  them  on 
either  side  and  in  front  of  me — as  a  protection  against  possible  shots  from  their 
more  speedy  companions  —  and  so  marched  them  back  to  our  line." 


—  405— 


A  WOMAN  CAPTURED  BY  CHAMP  FURGESON 


DR.  MARY  E.  WALKER, 

Assistant  Surgeon,  U.  S.  Army. 
Born  at  Oswego,  N.  Y. 


DOCTOR  MARY  E.  WALKER  is  the  only  woman  up  to 
the  present  time  who  ever  received  the  Medal 
of  Honor.  She  was  one  of  the  very  few  women  who 
at  that  time  held  a  diploma  from  a  medical  college, 
and  five  years  prior  to  the  war  had  a  general  medical 
and  surgical  practice  in  Oswego,  New  York,  her  native 
city.  When  the  war  broke  out,  and  with  that  self- 
reliance  which  is  one  of  her  strongest  characteristics. 
Dr.  Walker  traveled  alone  to  Washington,  and  at  the 
War  Department  tendered  her  services  as  a  physician 
and  surgeon.  There  was  nothing  to  prohibit  such 
service  and  Dr.  Walker,  young,  vigorous,  unconven 
tionally  masculine  in  attire  and  demeanor,  was 
accordingly  appointed  assistant  surgeon  without  pay. 
After  a  time  she  was  made  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
regular  army,  which  carried  with  it  the  rank  of  first 
lieutenant.  She  was  detailed  for  duty  with  Sher 
man's  armies  and,  possessed  of  a  strong  constitution, 

a  stern  will  and  good  knowledge  of  her  profession,  her  services  were  invaluable  on 
the  march,  in  the  field  and  in  the  hospital  —  particularly  in  the  latter,  where  her 
executive  ability  proved  of  great  advantage.  While  the  division  to  which  she  was 
attached  was  operating  around  Gordon's  Mills  in  the  effort  to  flank  Joseph  E. 
Johnston's  army,  an  epidemic  of  sickness  prevailed  among  the  people  of  that  vicin 
ity,  who  had  no  doctors,  all  the  local  physicians  being  with  the  Confederate  armies. 
Accordingly  an  appeal  for  medical  aid  was  made  to  the  Union  forces,  and  Dr.  Walker 
volunteered  her  services. 

The  country  was  overrun  with  Wheeler's  cavalry,  while  Champ  Furgeson's 
infamous  bushwhackers  were  a  terror  to  both  armies  alike.  Dr.  Walker  began  mak 
ing  her  visits  to  the  afflicted  people,  accompanied  by  an  armed  escort  of  two  officers 
and  two  orderlies;  the  doctor  herself  carrying  revolvers  in  her  holsters.  Eventually, 
however,  and  in  spite  of  repeated  narrow  escapes,  she  dispensed  with  her  escort  and 
arms  and  rode  alone  to  her  patients.  Champ  Furgeson  had  often  declared  that  he 
would  kill  every  "blue-coat"  he  captured,  so  the  Union  men  understood  that  no 
quarter  would  be  given  by  him. 

One  day  in  April,  1864,  Dr.  Walker  was  riding  her  horse  alone  and  unarmed,  on 
her  way  to  see  patients  at  Gordon's  Mills.  As  she  turned  at  a  bend  in  the  road,  she 
suddenly  found  herself  confronted  by  a  group  of  mounted  men  wearing  nondescript 
uniforms  of  gray,  butternut  and  blue,  and  was  told  to  surrender.  Looking  squarely 
into  the  eyes  of  the  man  who  gave  the  order,  she  replied  :  "  Certainly  sir,  as  I  am 
unarmed ;  but  will  you  kindly  escort  me  to  the  bedside  of  a  dying  woman,  whom  I 
am  going  as  a  physician  to  attend?" 


—  408  — 

The  chief  captor  seemed  puzzled  by  his  prisoner's  voice  and  sangfroid,  and,  after 
scanning  her  face  and  figure  closely  for  an  instant,  said  :  "  Oh,  you're  the  doctor  takin' 
care  of  the  folks  over  yon  way.  All  right,  pass  on."  Retaining  her  nerve  entirely, 
Dr.  Walker  thanked  the  man  and  went  her  way  unmolested.  Upon  her  return  to 
the  Union  camp  she  reported  the  episode  to  her  brother  officers  and  Colonel  Dan 
McCook  suggested  that  she  had  been  "held  up"  by  Champ  Furgeson.  The  other 


DR.  MARY   WALKER  AT  WORK    ON  THE  FIELD 

officers  declared  that  impossible,  because  she  had  lived  to  tell 
the  story.     Later  on  in  the  war  Dr.  Walker  was  captured  and 

was  held  prisoner  at  Castle  Thunder,  Richmond,  for  four  months.  Then  she  was 
exchanged  for  Dr.  Lightfoot  of  Tennessee.  It  was  not  until  after  all  this  experience 
that  she  was  shown  a  portrait  of  Champ  Furgeson  and  at  once  recognized  the 
features  of  the  man  who  had  been  her  captor  for  a  few  moments. 


—  409— 


YEARNED  FOR  LIBERTY  AND 
GAINED  IT 


JAMES  MADISON  DRAKE, 

Captain,  Co.  K,9th  N.  J.  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained  :    Bvt-Brig- 

General,  N.  J.  Vols. 
Born  in  Washington  Valley,  N.  J., 
in  1837. 


/CAPTAIN  JAMES  MADISON  DRAKE,  of  Company  K,  Ninth 
^•^  New  Jersey  Infantry,  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  man  to  unfurl  the  Union  flag  on  the  Confederate 
soil,  and  was  the  first  to  enter  the  enemy's  works  at 
Newbern,  North  Carolina.  He  commanded  the  Union 
advance  from  Bermuda  to  Point  of  Rocks,  Virginia,  May 
6,  1864,  and  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  May  16th,  drove  the  enemy 
within  his  works.  It  was  at  this  last  engagement  that 
he  was  taken  prisoner.  The  story  of  his  escape  from 
captivity  reads  like  a  romance  : 

"  I  passed  a  fortnight  in  Libby  Prison,"  Captain  Drake 
says,  "and  was  transferred  to  Macon  and  then  to  Savan 
nah.  I  was  constantly  devising  plans  for  regaining  my 

liberty,  and  with  other  prisoners  spent  weeks  of  toil  in  constructing  tunnels  for 
escape.  Though  frequently  baffled  by  treachery  in  promising  enterprises  for  re 
gaining  freedom,  I  never  ceased  to  cherish  the  hope  of  escape.  The  prospect  was 
gloomy  indeed.  Confined  in  fetid  strongholds,  and  surrounded  by  sleepless  sentinels, 
the  boldest  at  times  were  ready  to  despair.  But  even  the  horrors  of  the  Charleston 
jail-yard  did  not  discourage  me  from  seeking  a  favorable  means  of  escape.  Our  life 
in  Charleston  was  not  by  any  means  without  incident  and  excitement.  Only  the 
day  after  our  arrival  at  the  jail-yard  shells  from  our  batteries  on  Morris  Island 
fired  a  dozen  buildings  near  the  jail,  entirely  destroying  them.  Frequently  we  were 
in  danger  from  fragments  of  exploding  shells  from  the  Union  batteries  on  the 
harbor  islands. 

"  The  Confederacy  was  now  in  danger  of  an  overwhelming  disaster.  Sherman 
was  prepared  to  pursue  his  triumphant  march  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea,  and 
desperate  measures  were  adopted  by  the  Southerners.  Among  other  precautions 
taken  was  the  transfer  of  several  hundred  Union  captive  officers  to  Columbia,  where 
it  was  believed  they  could  be  securely  guarded.  The  proposed  change  was  hailed  as 
an  excellent  opportunity  for  escape,  and  four  of  us,  Captain  Harry  H.  Todd,  Eighth 
New  Jersey  Volunteers,  Captain  J.  E.  Lewis,  Eleventh  Connecticut  Volunteers,  Cap 
tain  Albert  Grant,  Nineteenth  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  and  myself,  resolved  to  take 
our  lives  in  our  hands  and  leap  from  the  train. 

"  The  train  reached  the  southern  end  of  the  long,  rickety  bridge  over  the  Con- 
garee  River  shortly  before  dark.  During  the  afternoon  I  had  succeeded  in  removing 
the  percussion  caps  from  the  rifles  held  by  the  sergeant  and  six  privates  who 
guarded  our  car,  and  as  the  box-car  in  which  we  were  riding  crossed  the  bridge 


—  410  — 

my  three  chosen  comrades  and  I  leaped  from  the  rapidly  moving  train.  Fortunately 
none  of  us  was  injured. 

"  The  train  came  to  a  stop  a  mile  or  so  away,  and  men  and  dogs  started  after  us. 
We  sought  refuge  in  a  heavy  cypress  swamp,  in  order  to  baffle  the  bloodhounds 
which  were  on  our  trail  within  an  hour.  We  remained  in  the  swamp  all  through 
that  dreary,  rainy  night  and  next  day.  At  sunset  we  started  on  our  way,  and  for 
days  wandered  on  through  the  woods,  living  on  corn  from  the  fields,  berries  and 
grapes.  We  were  wreak  and  faint  from  hunger  and  exhaustion.  Our  only  solace 
was  the  kindness  of  some  darkies  whom  we  came  upon  one  day  working  in  the 
fields,  and  who  provided  us  with  food  and  shelter  in  their  cabins,  treating  us  as 
their  friends  and  benefactors. 

"  Crossing  the  Catawba  River,  we  ran  across  some  deserters  from  the  Confederate 
Army,  men  who,  impressed  or  driven  into  service,  had  escaped,  and  now  defied  the 
whole  power  of  the  Confederate  Government.  In  Caldwell  County  we  met  hundreds 
of  this  class  of  persons.  They  were  associated  with  another  class  called  '  lyers  out,' 
who  had  long  lived  in  caves  and  other  retreats  on  the  mountain,  resisting  the  con 
scription.  Although  but  poorly  armed  with  old  Kentucky  rifles  and  squirrel  guns, 
they  managed  to  keep  at  bay  all  forces  sent  against  them. 

"  We  lived  with  these  men  in  their  caves  for  several  days,  and  persuaded  a  hun 
dred  or  more  to  accompany  us  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  the  nearest  point  to  the  Union 
lines,  promising  to  use  our  influence  in  procuring  them  arms,  ammunition,  cloth 
ing,  etc. 

"We  had  a  narrow  escape  from  guerrillas  at  Crab  Orchard,  Tenn.,  and  evaded 
them  only  by  making  a  wide  detour  to  Bull  Gap,  at  the  foot  of  the  beautiful  Cum 
berland  Valley.'  The  rebels,  Keith  and  Palmer,  with  their  bands  of  irregulars,  got 
upon  our  trail  on  Higgins'  Ridge,  and  came  within  an  ace  of  gobbling  us  as  we  were 
climbing  Big  Butt  Mountain,  from  the  summit  of  which  we  beheld  the  valley,  the 
promised  land.  'Only  fifteen  miles  from  the  foot  of  this  hill,' said  my  friend  Bill 
Estes,  a  refugee  from  North  Carolina,  '  and  we  shall  be  safe.'  That  exclamation 
urged  me  to  renewed  vigor. 

"  I  had  almost  given  up  hope  of  reaching  our  lines,  my  feet  being  in  terrible  con 
dition.  Suddenly  the  unmistakable  roaring  of  artillery  and  musketry  in  the  valley 
halted  the  whole  party,  and  looking  toward  the  gap  we  saw  the  smoke  rising  from 
a  battle  in  progress.  The  fight  came  to  a  sudden  termination  at  nightfall,  and  we 
ascertained  that  Breckenridge  had  defeated  General  Gillem  at  Blue  Lick  Springs, 
the  Union  men  being  in  full  retreat  upon  Knoxville.  Just  at  this  moment  a  moun 
taineer,  breathless  with  excitement,  came  up,  declaring  that  the  guerrillas  were  hot 
on  our  trail.  We  lost  no  time  in  seeking  cover  in  a  ravine  between  two  mountains, 
where,  we  flattered  ourselves,  there  would  be  comparative  safety.  Captains  Todd 
and  Grant,  with  a  mountaineer,  went  down  to  a  hamlet  to  obtain  rations  and  to 
procure  for  me  a  pair  of  shoes,  or  some  covering  for  my  feet,  for  I  was  suffering 
greatly. 


—  411  — 


"  During  their  absence  we  were  surprised  by  a  furious  attack  of  guerrillas.  Our 
camp  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  violent  confusion.  For  a  moment  my  senses  were 
bewildered,  but  whizzing  bullets  and  demoniac  yells  speedily  brought  me  to  a  real 
izing  sense  of  the  situation.  In  the  darkness  I  could  see  nothing  but  the  lurid 
flashes  from  the  firearms  of  the  guerrillas,  who,  having  at  last  caught  us  napping, 
were  now  carrying  on  their  awful  work,  firing  and  slashing  wildly  as  they  rode  in 
upon  us. 

"  I  started    running,    some 
times  falling  on  the  frost-cover 
ed  ground,  intent  only  on  wid 
ening  the  distance  between  my 
self  and  the  enemy,  from  whom, 
if   recaptured,   I    well  knew    1 
could   expect  no  favors.     On  I 
went,  my  movements  being  of 
course   greatly   accelerated   by 
the  whizzing  of  bullets  over 
my  head.     Faint  and  al 
most  exhausted,  and  ap 
parently    out    of    im 
mediate  danger,  I  sat 
down   to    extricate    a 
piece  of    stick   which 
had   been  forced  into 
the  fleshy  part  of  my 
heel. 

''I   sat  there   con 
templating  my  condi 
tion    and    the  manifold 
dangers  which  surrounded 
me,   until   daylight.     I  had 
no  money,  no  knife  or  other 
weapon,  no  blanket,  no  utensil 
in  which  to  cook,  nothing  to  eat, 
I  did  not  know  in  which  direction 
to  turn,  and  was  ignorant  of  the  fate 
and  whereabouts  of  my  companions. 

"I  was  on  the  brink  of  despair  when  I 

heard  sounds  of  an  approaching  party,  and  soon  I  recognized  Major  Davis,  of  Kirk's 
Third  North  Carolina  Infantry,  Captain  Lewis  and  a  score  of  others.  Grant  and 
Todd  were  missing,  neither  having  been  seen  or  heard  from  since  they  departed  to 


"WE  REMAINED  IN  THE  SWAMP 


—  412  — 

search  for  food.  I  was  affectionately  greeted,  having  been  given  up  for  dead.  We 
hastened  away,  keeping  under  the  shadows  of  the  mountains.  We  managed  to 
make  between  twenty  and  thirty  miles  a  day,  and  in  less  than  a  week  were  safe 
within  the  Union  lines  at  Knoxville,  about  seven  weeks  after  our  escape  from 
Charleston." 


CHARGED  OVER  A  BURNING 
BRIDGE 


LLEWELLYN  G.  ESTES, 

Captain  and  A.  A.  Gen.  Volunteers. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Brigadier-General. 

Born  at  Oldtown,  IVnobscot  Co.,  Me., 

Dec.  27,  1843. 


TT  was  late  in  August,  1864,  that  General  Sherman 
1  began  a  grand  wheel  of  his  armies  with  Schofield's 
force  at  the  pivot,  and  Howard's  Corps  on  the  out 
side  making  a  radius  of  twenty-five  miles  and  aiming  at 
Jonesboro,  while  General  Thomas  and  his  army  moved 
between  the  two.  The  object  was  to  seize  both  southern 
railways  leading  out  from  Atlanta  and  to  destroy  all 
stations,  bridges,  culverts,  rails  and  ties,  thus  forcing 
Hood  out  of  Atlanta.  Preceded  by  Kilpatrick,  who 
was  handling  the  irrepressible  annoyance  from  Wheel 
er's  Cavalry,  General  Howard  was  moving  with  reason 
able  speed,  and  on  the  30th  of  August  his  forces  had 
been  fighting  all  day  as  they  advanced.  At  the  same  time  Kilpatrick's  Cavalry  had 
also  been  kept  busy. 

At  the  request  of  General  Kilpatrick  his  chief  of  staff  and  adjutant-general,  Cap 
tain  Llewellyn  G.  Estes,  had  taken  command  of  the  advance  brigade  of  cavalry  with 
instructions  to  keep  well  up  with  the  skirmish  line  of  the  infantry  and  to  protect 
their  right  flank.  At  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  they  had 
reached  a  point  about  four  miles  from  Flint  River,  where  General  Howard  had  been 
ordered  to  camp  for  the  night.  Captain  Estes  halted  his  cavalry  brigade  and  was 
waiting  for  the  movement  of  the  infantry  on  his  left  when  one  of  General  Howard's 
aides  appeared  and  said  that  the  general  wished  to  see  him.  Accordingly  the  cap 
tain  rode  over  and  met  General  Howard,  who  remarked:  "Estes,  I  am  directed  by 
General  Sherman  to  halt  my  army  here  for  the  night.  There  is  no  water  here  for 
my  troops,  the  enemy  is  harassing  me  all  the  time  and  I  want  to  know  if  you  can 
drive  them  across  the  Flint  River."  Captain  Estes  replied  that  he  could  do  it  and 
the  general  said  :  "Try  it." 

Thereupon  Captain  Estes  rode  rapidly  back  to  the  head  of  his  command  and  with 
the  Ninety-Sixth  Illinois  Cavalry  charged  the  barricade  of  the  enemy,  rode  over 
and  through  them  before  they  had  time  to  form  again  and  pushed  on  to  Flint  River 


—  413  — 


at  a  gallop.  So  surprised  were  the  Confederates  that  they  simply  scattered  in  every 
direction,  some  six  or  eight  of  their  companies  racing  along  in  front  of  the  Federals 
down  to  and  across  the  river.  Within  an  hour  from  the  talk  with  General  Howard 
Captain  Estes  had  forced  the  enemy  across  the  river,  and,  General  Howard  following 
immediately  behind  Estes,  came  up  and  complimented  him  very  highly  for  the 
work  performed. 


"ESTES,  ARMED 
WITH  A  REVOLVER,  WENT 
AHEAD  WITH  A  RUSH." 


Then  Captain  Estes  asked :  "  Do  you 
want  me  to  take  the  bridge  ? "  The  gen 
eral  responded:  "Can  you  do  it?"  And 
when  the  young  cavalry  leader  said  "Yes" 
the  general  replied :  "  All  right,  go  ahead." 

Estes   hurriedly   dismounted   the   Ninety- 
second  Illinois  and  the  Tenth  Ohio,  which  General 

Kilpatrick  had  promptly  sent  forward  at  his  request,  and  moved  down  the  bank  of 
the  river,  where  these  two  regiments,  armed  with  Spencer  carbines,  kept  up  such  a 
constant  fire  on  the  enemy's  barricades  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  that  Estes 
was  enabled  with  two  companies  of  the  Tenth  Ohio  Cavalry  to  charge  across  the 
bridge  on  the  stringers,  the  planking  having  been  removed  by  the  enemy,  and  drive 


—  414  — 

the  Confederates  back.  At  the  time  of  this  charge  the  bridge  was  burning  in 
several  places,  but  Estes,  armed  with  a  revolver,  went  ahead  with  a  rush,  brim 
ful  of  confidence  in  the  men  at  his  back,  as  they  were  enthused  by  the  valor  and 
dash  of  their  leader.  After  driving  the  foe  from  the  river  Estes  and  his  men  re 
placed  the  planking,  thus  enabling  Howard's  Army  to  cross.  It  was  a  triumph 
belonging  jointly  to  the  commander  and  his  men,  and  probably  the  most  pleased 
man  in  the  whole  of  Sherman's  Army  that  evening  was  General  0.  0.  Howard,  to 
realize  that  so  much  had  been  accomplished  in  so  short  a  time  with  a  loss  of  but 
six  men  ;  four  killed  and  two  wounded. 

The  Union  force  was  then  within  one  mile  of  Jonesboro,  through  which  the  rail 
road  passed  on  the  line  between  Atlanta  and  Macon.  It  was  a  position  with  abun 
dant  water  at  hand  and  one  which  the  general  had  not  expected  to  reach  except  by 
virtue  of  a  great  battle  involving  an  entire  corps  and  at  a  great  loss  of  life.  In  re 
ferring  to  Captain  Estes'  deed  General  Howard  gave  official  expression  in  the  follow 
ing  : 

"*  *  *  All  the  circumstances  surrounding  tms  action  made  it  striking  and  im 
pressive  ;  the  necessity  of  securing  water  for  my  army  and  a  lodgment  on  the  east 
ern  bank,  the  burning  bridge  and  the  barricades  of  the  enemy,  the  charge  across  the 
burning  timbers  and  the  relief  given  by  its  success,  not  only  impressed  me  but 
all  others  present  at  the  time.  *  *  *  The  action  was  phenomenal ;  and  the  prompti 
tude  and  gallantry  of  General  Estes  and  his  men  under  a  very  sharp  fire  were 
unsurpassed." 

Captain  Estes  at  the  time  of  the  above  achievement  was  only  twenty-one  years 
old.  One  month  after  the  Flint  River  engagement  he  was  promoted  major,  a  few 
months  later  lieutenant-colonel,  and  on  September  30th,  nine  months  after  his 
twenty-first  birthday,  he  received  his  commission  as  brigadier-general  of  volunteers. 


—  415  — 


HEROIC  AND  HUMANE 


GEORGE  H.  MAYNARD, 

Private.  Co.  D..  13th  Massa 
chusetts  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Bvt-Major. 

Born  in  Waltham.  Mass.,  Feb. 
2,  1836. 


PRIVATE  GEORGE  H.  MAYNARD,  of  Company  D,  Thirteenth 
Massachusetts  Volunteers,  distinguished  himself  through 
exceptional  courage  in  several  of  the  great  battles. 

At  the  attack  on  Antietam,  September  17,  1862,  Maynard 
and  one  of  his  comrades  remained  at  the  front  skirmishing 
after  their  regiment  had  been  withdrawn.  He  assisted  two 
of  his  comrades  who  were  wounded,  off  the  field,  and  when 
fresh  troops  were  pushed  on  to  the  attack  he  attached  him 
self  repeatedly  until  at  the  end  of  the  day  he  had  served 
with  no  less  than  six  regiments. 

Three  months  later  his  regiment  participated  in  the  charge 
at  Fredericksburg,  December  13, 1862,  and  suffered  heavy  loss. 
Maynard,  who  was  in  the  skirmish  line,  went  to  the  assist 
ance  of  his  wounded  comrades  and  did  not  leave  them  till  he 
had  them  in  a  place  of  safety.  After  his  regiment  had  been 

removed  to  another  position  he  learned  that  one  of  his  friends  had  been  left 
wounded  on  the  field.  Regardless  of  the  great  danger  he  ran,  he  returned  to  the 
spot  under  a  heavy  fire,  found  the  wounded  man,  and  carried  him  safely  to  the  rear. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  incidents,  however,  in  his  military  career  occurred  in 
the  month  of  September,  1864.  A  mounted  expedition  under  command  of  General 
Asboth  and  composed  of  detachments  from  several  regiments,  six  hundred  strong, 
left  Pensacola,  Fla.,  to  capture  or  destroy  the  Confederate  military  stores  at  Mari- 
anna,  Fla.,  a  distance  of  300  miles.  After  five  days  of  rapid  marches  the  destination 
was  reached,  but  the  enemy,  having  been  advised  of  the  approach  of  the  detach 
ment,  was  found  to  be  prepared  to  offer  a  stout  resistance. 

The  main  road  entering  Marianna  was  narrow,  with  houses  on  both  sides  of 
the  street.  About  300  yards  from  where  the  detachment  halted  a  barricade  of 
wagons  and  carts  of  all  descriptions  was  thrown  across  the  street. 

Maynard  had  been  promoted  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  assigned  to 
duty  in  Florida  and  Louisiana  and  held  the  rank  of  Captain  in  the  Eighty-second 
U.  S.  Volunteers  at  the  time,  and  was  acting  provost-marshal  of  that  expedition. 
He  and  Captain  Young,  of  the  Seventh  Vermont  Infantry,  acting  assistant  adjutant- 
general,  wrere  at  the  head  and  to  one  side  of  the  column.  Presently  General  Asboth 
gave  orders  to  charge  and  two  companies  of  cavalry  advanced  about  two-thirds  of 
the  way  to  the  barricade,  when  the  rebels  opened  fire  and  drove  the  charging 
Federals  back  in  disorder. 

General  Asboth  was  greatly  disappointed  and  cried  "  For  shame !  For  shame ! " 
as  the  retreating  cavalry  rushed  past.  The  men,  however,  soon  re-formed  and  an 
other  charge  was  ordered. 

"  This  charge,"  says  Maynard, "  was  led  by  the  general,  Captain  Young  and  myself. 


CAPTAIN  MAYNARD  PREVENTING  A  GENERAL  MASSACRE. 


—417  — 


"As  our  horses  leaped  the  barricade,  all  three  bunched  together,  the  enemy  fired, 
wounding  General  Asboth  in  the  face  and  arm,  and  instantly  killing  Captain  Young 
I  drew  rein,  faced  a  blacksmith  shop  full  of  Confederate  soldiers,  and  fired,  shooting 
their  major  through  the  shoulder.  Our  cavalry  was  detained  by  the  barricade,  and 
General  Asboth's  horse  ran  away  when  he  was  shot,  so,  for  the  time  being,  I  was 
alone.  When  the  cavalry  came  up  I  quickly  directed  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the 
general,  and  the  location  of  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  Colonel  Zulavsky  of  the  Eighty- 
second  U.  S.  Volunteers  had  dismounted  some  of  his  men  and  they  were  apprised  of 
the  situation  an  active  firing  began. 

"The  enemy  were  posted  behind  houses  on  one  side  of  the  street,  and  behind  the 
sheltering  stones  of  a  burial  ground  on  the  other,  in  the  blacksmith  shop,  and  in 
the  church.  Theirs  seemed  an  impregnable  position,  but  after  an  engagement  of 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  they  made  overtures  to  surrender.  No  sooner  had  the 
Union  troops  ceased  firing  than  they  immediately  reopened  fire,  killing  one  of  our 
boys,  which  infuriated  us. 

"  Shortly  after,  the  rebels  surrendered  a  second  time,  but  our  troops  were  so  en 
raged  at  the  previous  treachery  that  they  began  an  indiscriminate  attack  upon  the 
Confederates  as  they  were  being  captured. 

"I  at  once  dismounted  and  rushed  into  the  graveyard,  just  in  time  to  knock  away 
a  musket  placed  at  the  head  of  a  prisoner,  and  threatened  to  blow  out  the  brains  of 
the  first  man  who  dared  to  shoot  a  prisoner.  This  course  prevented  a  general  mas 
sacre  of  our  captured  foes,  numbering  108." 


SEIZED  HIS  OPPORTUNITY 


|N  the  morning  of  September  13,  1864,"  says 
Corporal  Isaac  Gause,  of  Company  E,  Second 
Ohio  Cavalry,  "  I  was  sent  forward  with  seven  men 
to  reconnoiter  the  enemy's  position  on  the  north 
side  of  the  creek  near  Berryville,  Va.  After  we 
had  crossed  the  creek  we  captured  the  Confederate 
outposts,  from  whom  we  learned  that  the  troops  in 
camp  were  the  Eighth  South  Carolina.  Sending 
our  prisoners  to  the  rear  in  charge  of  two  men,  I 
rode  rapidly,  expecting  my  five  remaining  comrades 
would  follow  me  around  the  woods  which  were 
at  the  top  of  the  ridge  half  a  mile  beyond  the 
creek.  Presently  I  discovered  that  I  was  alone,  my 
comrades  having  left  the  pike,  going  to  the  left 
around  the  south  side  of  the  woods.  I  also  saw  that 

our  main  force  under  General  Mclntosh  had  followed  them  and  had  attacked  the 
enemy,  who  were  on  a  hill  to  the  west.    Just  at  this  time  I  reached  the  slope  on 


ISAAC  GAUSE, 

Corporal,  Co.  E,  Second  Ohio  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  Dec.  9.  1843. 


—  418  — 

the  east  and  north  of  the  woods,  when  I  was  fired  at  from  a  thicket,  whereupon  I 
rode  into  a  ravine  at  the  west  of  the  pike  and  jumped  my  horse  over  a  ditch  to  get 
under  cover.  As  my  horse  landed  on  the  other  side  of  the  ditch  he  went  to  his 
knees  and  I  thought  he  had  been  hit ;  but  he  came  up  all  right  and  I  followed  the 
ravine  until  I  got  back  to  the  pike,  where  I  met  General  Mclntosh  and  his  staff  and 
reported  to  him  that  the  enemy  had  a  cavalry  reserve  north  of  the  woods  and  that 
they  were  getting  ready  to  come  to  the  assistance  of  the  troops  on  the  hill  and 
in  the  woods.  'But,'  I  said,  'we  can  get  around  the  woods  and  intercept  them.' 
Accordingly  Company  E  of  my  regiment,  under  command  of  Major  Nettleton, 
was  ordered  to  the  place  directed.  Our  movement  was  quickly  made,  and  sure 
enough  we  reached  the  northwest  corner  of  the  ravine  which  I  had  before  visited, 
entering  a  larger  one  running  north  just  in  time  to  intercept  the  Confederates  mov 
ing  north  toward  their  cavalry.  The  heads  of  our  columns  were  not  more  than  fifty 
yards  apart.  We  charged  at  them  and  were  met  by  a  withering  fire,  but  this  did 
not  stagger  us,  and  their  line  began  to  break.  '  Come  on  boys ! '  I  yelled,  and  with 
wild  whoops  we  doubled  our  speed.  Just  then  the  cavalry  reserve  began  to  pop  at 
us  from  the  rear,  but  at  this  time  also  our  main  force  came  up  from  the  south  and 
west,  and  the  Confederates  between  our  lines  began  to  flee  in  every  direction.  In 
the  mix-up  that  followed  I  captured  the  color-guard  and  a  stand  of  colors,  and  this 
won  for  me  the  Medal  of  Honor." 


INCIDENTS  FROM  WINCHESTER'S  BLOODY 

BATTLEFIELD 


TT'HE  stars  and  stripes  and  a  rebel  flag  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va.,  Sep 
tember  19,  1864,  made  heroes  of  two  brave  Union  soldiers — Color-Sergeant 
Alphonso  M.  Lunt,  of  Company  F,  Thirty-eighth  Massachusetts  Infantry,  and  of 
Corporal  Gabriel  Cole,  of  Company  I,  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  Their  stories  stand 
out  prominently  among  the  many  remarkable  incidents  of  the  war. 

The  brigade  to  which  Sergeant  Lunt's   regiment   belonged  was  ordered  to  ad 
vance   about  800  yards  and  halt.     The  impetus  of  the  charge  carried  the  troops 


Winchester,  Va.— On  the  19th  of  September,  1864,  Early,  after  having  thrown  the  bulk  of  his  army  to 
Bunker  Hill,  and  having  reconnoitered  as  far  as  Martinsburg,  was  attacked  by  Sheridan  at  Winchester  (or 
the  Opequon),  Va.  After  a  most  stubborn  and  sanguinary  engagement,  which  lasted  from  early  morning  un 
til  5  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  Confederates  were  completely  defeated  and  driven  to  Winchester,  closely 
followed  by  the  Federal  troops.  Night  prevented  farther  pursuit,  and  Sheridan  rested  with  2,500  prisoners, 
five  pieces  of  artillery  and  nine  battle-flags  as  his  trophies  of  victory.  The  rebel  General  Kodes  and 
General  Godwin  were  killed  and  several  other  general  officers  unarmed.  The  Federal  losses  were  severe, 
among  them  General  D.  A.  Russell,  commanding  the  First  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  who  was  killed. 

Early  did  not  halt  in  his  retreat  southward  until  he  reached  Fisher's  Hill,  thirty  miles  from  Sheridan, 
and  which  commanded  the  narrow  Strasburg  Valley,  between  the  Shenandoah  River  and  North  Mountain. 


—  419  — 


Corporal,  Co.  I,  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Beaver  Dams,  N.  Y.,  March  22, 1831. 


way  beyond  the  desig 
nated  place  and  brought 
them  into  uncomfortable 
proximity  with  a  much 
superior  rebel  force. 

Because  of  the  long, 
rapid  advance  over 
ploughed  fields,  fences, 
and  rough  broken  coun 
try  generally,  the  Union 
line  was  in  no  condition 
to  face  such  an  assault  and 
began  to  waver.  At  this 
Sergeant  Lunt,  who  car 
ried  his  colors  aloft  thus 


ALPHONSO  M.  LUNT, 

Color-Sergeant.  Co.  F,  38th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 

Born  at  Berwick,  Me.,  1837. 


far  through  the  fight,  see 
ing  that  a  rally  must  be  made,  waved  the  flag  and  with  a  yell  rushed  ahead  about 
200  yards  in  advance  of  the  line  and  shouted:  "Dress  on  the  colors!"  Inspired 
by  his  bravery,  the  men  of  Company  F  at  once  responded,  to  be  followed  immedi 
ately  by  others,  until  about  100  men  were  supporting  him,  and  there  they  stood 
facing  a  Confederate  line  of  battle  until  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy 
forced  them  to  retreat.  No  less  than  twenty-two  bullet  holes  were  counted  in  the 
folds  of  the  flag  which  Sergeant  Lunt  had  defended  so  bravely. 

Corporal  Cole  was  at  another  point  of  the  battlefield  participating  in  those  fierce 
cavalry  charges  led  by  General  Custer,  which  to  a  large  extent  decided  the  battle  in 
favor  of  the  Union  cause.  During  the  last  great  charge,  which  culminated  in  a 
desperate  hand-to-hand  fight  between  the  opposing  foes,  Corporal  Cole,  who  was  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fray,  espied  a  Confederate  color-bearer.  He  dashed  up  to  him, 
swung  his  sabre  over  the  rebel's  head  and  wrould  have  killed  him  with  one  blow  had 
the  man  not  ducked  in  time  and  dropped  the  flag.  Corporal  Cole  seized  the  colors, 
but  just  at  that  instant  his  horse  was  shot  in  the  shoulder  and  leg  and  fell.  While 
trying  to  help  the  poor  animal  the  brave  corporal  was  himself  wounded  in  the  left 
leg.  Still  carrying  the  flag  he  limped  along  till  a  Union  officer  came  to  his  assist 
ance.  It  was  not  long  before  Corporal  Cole  took  possession  of  a  riderless  horse  and? 
mounting  it,  rejoined  his  regiment  and  stayed  in  the  fight  till  the  battle  was  ended. 


ANOTHER  episode  from  the  battle  of  Winchester.     The  rebels,  in  full  retreat  be 
fore  a  furious  cavalry  attack,  were  being  closely  followed  by  the  Federals. 
During  this  charge    Andrew  J.   Lorish,  Commissary   Sergeant    of  the   First  New 
York  Dragoons,  made  a  dash  for  the  colors  of  a  Confederate  regiment.     He  was  at 


—420  — 

his  side  just  as  the  color-bearer,  struck  by  a  shot 
from  his  own  ranks,  stumbled  and  fell.  Heedless 
of  the  Confederate  color-guard  of  some  six  or  seven 
men,  the  bold  dragoon  grabbed  the  standard  and 
whirled  his  horse  around  to  rejoin  his  comrades. 
At  this  the  wounded  color-bearer  raised  himself  on 
his  elbow  and  yelled  :  "  Boys,  shoot  that  damned 
Yankee  !  He's  got  our  nag  !  Pie's  got  our  flag ! 
Shoot  him ! " 

Already  several  of  the  color-guard  were  raising 
their  muskets  to  fire,  but  Sergeant  Lorish  Avas 
equal  to  the  emergency. 

"Quick  as  a  flash,"  says  he,  "with  my  arm  up 
lifted,  I  wheeled  my  horse  around  and,  dashing 
directly  at  the  five  men,  commanded  :  '  Drop  those 

guns  or  I'll  send  every  one  of  you  to  hell ! '  As  they  dropped  their  guns  I  again 
wheeled  and  putting  spurs  to  my  horse  dashed  down  the  hill,  to  hear,  when  I  was 
fifteen  or  twenty  rods  away,  the  bullets  singing  thick  and  fast  above  my  head.  But 
I  escaped  with  the  flag  and  was  unhurt,  to  be  greeted  with  cheers  from  my  com 
rades  as  I  joined  them. 

"  The  mark  of  a  Minie  ball  on  the  visor  of  my  cap  furnished  proof  of  the  perilous- 
ness  of  the  situation  I  had  encountered." 


ANDREW  J.  LORISH, 

Commissary  Sergeant.  First  X.  Y.  Dragoons. 
Born  in  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  November  8, 1832. 


SWIMMING  UNDER  HEAVY  FIRE 


'"THE  Union  soldiers  accomplished  a  brilliant  achievement 
at  Bayou  Alabama,  La.  General  Granger  was  pur 
suing  a  body  of  Confederates  under  General  Taylor  and 
on  September  24,  1804,  had  forced  the  enemy  to  offer 
battle  or  surrender.  The  two  forces  were  separated  only 
by  the  river,  which  was  not  more  than  fifty  yards  wide. 
General  Granger's  cavalrymen  dismounted  and  began  to 

C    ».        .    1KA    .  mu  ...  LUMAN  L.  CADWELL, 

tight  at  150  teet  range.      I  he  struggle  was  indecisive  and  sergeant,  GO.  B,  second  New  York 
could  only  be  brought  to  a  successful  close  by  an  attack  on    Bom  m  Nanticoke'springs,  N.  Y., 
the  other  side  of  the  stream.    How  to  cross  the  river,  how 
ever,  was  a  difficult  problem  just  then,  heavy  autumn  rains  having  swollen  it  and 
created  a  rapid  current.    A  large  flat-bottom  scow  was  lying  close  in  shore  on  the 
Confederate  side. 


—  421  — 

A  call  was  made  for  volunteers  to  swim  the  river  and  secure  the  scow.  Lieu 
tenant  Westinghouse  and  Sergeant  Luman  L.  Cadwell,  of  Company  B,  Second  New 
York  Cavalry,  volunteered.  They  started  on  a  run  for  the  river,  plunged  in 
and  swam  directly  to  the  enemy's  line.  It  was  an  extremely  dangerous  undertak 
ing,  the  rebels  pouring  a  shower  of  bullets  at  them,  while  balls  from  their  own  com 
rades  were  flying  over  their  heads  to  the  other  side.  However,  miraculous  as  it 
may  seem,  the  two  brave  swimmers  reached  the  object  of  their  heroic  effort  un 
hurt.  After  untying  the  scow  and  reaching  deep  water,  they  kept  on  the  side  more 


"THEY  KEPT  ON  THE  SIDE  REMOTE  FROM  THE  HOSTILE  SHORE.' 


remote  from  the  hostile  shore  and  shoved  the  boat  successfully  to  the  other  side  of 
the  river. 

"  Bullets  whistled  about  us  like  hail,  hitting  the  boat  and  pattering  in  the  water 
all  around,"  Sergeant  Cadwell  says,  in  recalling  the  occurrence.  Again,  however, 
he  and  the  lieutenant  remained  uninjured  and  thus  were  able  to  furnish  the  much 
desired  means  by  which  soon  afterward  the  Union  forces  crossed  the  river. 

Lieutenant  Westinghouse  was  killed  a  few  months  later,  while  Sergeant  Cadwell 
lived  to  receive  the  precious  medal  for  the  heroic  feat. 


—  422  — 


1 i 


LET'S   GO    FOR   THE    GUNS!" 


SYLVESTER  D.  RHODES, 

Sergeant,  Co.  D,6lst  Perm.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  :    Captain. 

Born  in  Luzerne  County,  Pa., 

December,  1842. 


THE  capture  of  the  Confederate  artillery  by  the  Fed 
erals  at  Fisher's  Hill,  Va.,  on  September  22,  1864, 
was  an  achievement  which  was  accomplished  largely  by 
the  personal  courage  of  Sergeant  Sylvester  D.  Rhodes,  of 
Company  D,  Sixty-first  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  who  during 
that  engagement  was  acting  as  captain  of  his  company. 
The  rebels  had  been  driven  back  to  their  breastworks  and 
attempted  to  direct  their  artillery  fire  on  the  advancing 
Union  men.  Owing  to  the  hilly  nature  of  the  country,  the 
guns  behind  the  breastworks  could  not  be  depressed  suffi 
ciently  to  strike  the  troops  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

Sergeant  Rhodes,  with  quick  perception,  took  advan 
tage  of  the  situation.  Stepping  to  the  front  of  his  com 
pany,  he  exclaimed,  pointing  to  the  rebel  breastworks  : 

"  Now  boys,  let's  go  for  those  guns  !" 

The  men  replied  with  a  cheer  and  started  up  hill.  Company  F  was  the  color 
company.  "  And,"  says  Sergeant  Rhodes  in  telling  about  the  event,  "  when  our  colors 
moved  the  entire  regiment  followed  with  alacrity. 

"  I  was  the  first  man  over  the  breastworks.  I  jumped  in  right  between  twro  guns, 
loaded  and  ready  to  fire,  grabbed  the  hand-spike  of  one  and  turned  it  on  the  rebels , 
who  were  forming  some  fifty  yards  in  the  rear.  By  this  time  a  number  of  comrades 
had  come  to  my  assistance  and  the  gun  which  had  been  turned  on  the  enemy  was 
fired.  The  shell  struck  the  top  log  on  the  works  behind  which  the  rebels  were 
forming.  They  were  panic-stricken  and  fled.  Their  artillery  attempted  to  keep  up 
with  them  and  get  way,  but  I  shot  one  of  the  lead  horses  of  the  first  piece  and  thus 
blocked  the  narrow  road.  The  confusion  which  followed  made  it  rather  easy  for  us 
to  capture  the  entire  battery  of  seventeen  pieces." 


Fisher's  Hill,  Va. — Following  close  upon  the  defeat  of  Early  at  Winchester  came  his  almost  utter 
annihilation  at  Fisher's  Hill,  Va.,  on  the  22nd  of  September,  1864.  Sheridan  achieved  a  most  signal  victory 
over  Early  at  this  place,  and  was  prevented  from  totally  destroying  the  enemy's  army  only  by  darkness- 
which  made  further  operations  impossible. 

Early  was  posted  in  an  almost  impregnable  position  on  the  North  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah  and  ex 
tending  across  the  Strasburg  Valley.  After  a  great  deal  of  manoeuvreing  during  the  day  the  left  of  the 
enemy's  line  was  furiously  attacked  and  driven  from  their  works.  In  the  meantime  the  Sixth- and  Nine 
teenth  Army  Corps  attacked  the  rebel  front,  and  the  whole  rebel  army  was  forced  back  in  utter  confusion, 
retreating  to  the  lower  passes  of  the  Blue  Eidge,  closely  pursued  as  far  as  Staunton  by  Sheridan,  who  then 
returned  and  took  position  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va. 

The  Confederates  lost  about  400  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  1,100  men  taken  prisoners,  while  the 
Union  losses  were  about  600  in  killed  and  wounded. 


—  423  — 


THE  BONDS  OF  COMRADESHIP 


WILLIAM  G.  HILLS, 

Private,  Co.  E,  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry. 
Born  at  Conewango,  N.  Y.,  June  26, 1841. 


A  N  illustration  of  true  soldierly  comradeship  is  pre- 
**  sented  in  the  story  of  Private  William  G.  Hills,  of 
Company  E,  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry,  who  saved  the 
life  of  Sergeant  Joel  H.  Lyman,  of  Company  B,  of 
the  same  regiment.  How  it  was  done  the  latter  de 
scribes  in  these  brief  but  pointed  words : 

"  During  our  campaign  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
we  reached  Harrisburg,  Va.,  on  September  25,  1864, 
and  on  the  day  following  we  met  the  enemy's  cavalry 
and  drove  them  to  the  North  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah. 
When  we  arrived  at  the  brow  of  the  hill  overlooking 
the  river,  which  was  quite  narrow  and  fordable,  we 
could  see  Early's  Infantry  drawn  up  in  line  on  the 

opposite  side.  Supposing  that  our  object  was  to  capture  the  enemy's  train,  I  gal 
loped  down  the  slope,  but  had  not  gone  twenty  rods  when  I  was  knocked  from  my 
horse  by  a  musket  ball  from  the  rebel  rifle  pits,  which  were  hidden  from  my  view 
by  the  willow  trees  bordering  the  opposite  bank. 

"  The  regiment  had  been  ordered  back  and  I  found  myself  alone  and  helpless,  the 
enemy's  bullets  ploughing  up  the  ground  and  throwing  dirt  all  over  me.  Seeing  my 
dangerous  position,  William  Hills  drove  the  spurs  into  his  horse  and  galloped  to  the 
spot  where  I  lay.  Then  coolly  dismounting  he  lifted  me  to  my  saddle,  mounted  his 
own  horse  and  supported  me  from  the  field,  amid  a  veritable  hail  of  bullets.  It 
seemed  as  if  the  whole  rebel  army  had  concentrated  its  fire  upon  us. 

"  For  genuine  pluck  and  comradeship  I  never  in  my  three  years  of  active  service 
saw  anything  to  compare  with  this  deed." 


A  SINGLE-HANDED   CHARGE 


T^HE  following  account  of  a  single-handed  cavalry  charge  is  graphically  told  by 
Captain  George  N.  Bliss,  Company  C,  First  Rhode  Island  Cavalry : 

"  About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  September  28,  1864,  I  received  an  order 
from  Major  Farrington  to  ride  to  Waynesborough,  Va.,  and  give  orders  to  the  provost 
guards  to  prevent  soldiers  from  entering  the  houses,  as  the  entire  cavalry  force  was 
about  to  pass  through  the  town  to  water  their  horses  in  the  Shenandoah. 

"It  was  a  perfect  day  of  early  autumn.  I  rode  into  the  town,  gave  my  orders, 
and  was  about  to  return  when  my  attention  was  attracted  by  the  efforts  of  a 


—  424  — 


Vermont  cavalry  regiment  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  ;  the  woodwork  had  been 
burned,  and  one  span  of  the  iron  work  had  fallen.  While  watching  this  proceeding 
I  heard  shots  in  the  distance  across  the  river,  and  looking  in  that  direction  saw  the 
enemy  about  a  mile  away,  driving  in  our  pickets ;  but  when  the  reserve 
was  reached  a  charge  of  our  men  sent  the  rebels  back  again.  At  first 
I  thought  it  was  only  a  trifling  picket  line  skirmish,  but  soon  the 
reserve  was  hurled  back,  and  I  saw  that  it  was  an  attack 
in  force. 

"I  at  once  rode  to  Captain  Willis  C.  Capron,  of  the 
First  Rhode  Island  Cavalry,  who  had  command  of 
about  a  dozen  men  as  provost  guard  in  the  little  vil 
lage,  and  ordered  him  to  form  his  men  in  line  across 
the  main  street  and  allow  none  but  wounded  men  to 
pass  to  the  rear.  This  was  promptly  done,  and  I  was 
about  to  return  to  my  squadron  when  Captain  Capron 
said  to  me  : 

" '  I  wish  you  would  take  command  here  ;  you 
know  I  have  never  been  in  a  fight ! ' 

"  At  first  I  refused,  but  the  men  looked  at  me  as 
though  they  really  desired  it,  and  I  said  to  Captain 
Capron  : 

" '  Very  well,  take  your  place  in  the  rear  of  the 
line  as  junior  captain,'  and,  drawing  my  sabre,  I  took 
my  place  in  front. 

"  Our  picket  line  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  fighting  stoutly,  but  the  force  of  the  enemy  was 

too  strong  for  them  and  the  firing  was  rapidly  approaching  us,  when,  having  rallied 
about  thirty  men,  it  occurred  to  me  that  a  charge  across  the  river  by  us,  accom 
panied  by  vigorous  cheering,  might  produce  the  impression  on  our  men  and  upon 
the  enemy  that  re-enforcements  had  arrived,  check  the  advance,  and  give  our  main 
body  more  time  to  form  for  action. 

"  It  was  accordingly  done,  and  with  the  effect  that  I  had  anticipated.  I  had 
nearly  reached  the  front  when  a  major  rode  up  to  me  and  said  :  '  Colonel  Lowell 
wishes  you  to  take  your  command  to  the  ford  of  the  river  and  stop  all  stragglers.' 

"  The  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  I  was  in  time  to  stop  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  There  were  some  lieutenants  with  them,  who  under  my  orders  had 
just  about  succeeded  in  getting  their  men  into  line  when  a  rebel  battery  commenced 


Captain.  Co.  C,  First  R.  I 

Cavalry. 

Born  at  Eagleville,  R.  I. 
July  22.  1837. 


Waynesborongh  —  On  the  27th  of  September,  1864,  General  Torbert  moved  his  command  to  Waynes- 
borough,  Va.,  and  on  the  following  morning  proceeded  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  South  Fork 
of  the  Shenandoah  River  and  burned  the  depot  and  government  buildings.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the 
enemy,  under  General  Early,  attacked  the  Union  cavalry  in  strong  force  with  infantry,  cavalry  and  artil 
lery.  They  were  held  in  check  until  after  dark,  when  General  Torbert,  learning  that  the  enemy  were 
attempting  to  cut  him  off  from  the  main  army,  fell  back  to  Spring  Hill  without  delivering  battle. 


—425  — 

dropping  shells  among  them,  and  away  they  went,  sweeping  my  small  force  bodily 
across  the  river.  In  the  town  I  again  got  some  of  my  men  together  and  endeavored 
to  build  a  barricade  across  the  main  street.  It  was  about  half  done  when  I  saw 
that  it  could  not  be  completed  in  time  to  be  of  any  service,  and  we  again  fell  back 
until  we  came  to  the  Third  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  drawn  up  in  column  of  squadrons 
in  the  western  suburb  of  the  town.  Looking  again  towards  the  enemy  I  saw  Colonel 
Charles  Russell  Lowell,  who  had  been  in  command  of  the  picket  line,  riding  toward 


"A  BULLET  INTENDED  FOR  ME,  STRUCK  MY  MOUNT." 

us  with  his  horse  on  a  walk,  the  last  man  to  fall  back  before  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  The  Confederate  bullets  were  whistling  about  him,  and  frequent  puffs  of 
dust  in  the  road  showed  where  they  struck  right  and  left  of  this  brave  soldier. 
Putting  spurs  to  my  horse  I  rode  forward  and  had  the  following  conversation  with 
him : 

"'Colonel  Lowell,  I  had  but  a  few  of  the  provost  guards,  and  did  what  I  could 
with  them  to  help  you.' 

"  '  Well  Captain,  we  must  check  their  advance  with  a  sabre  charge.  Isn't  that 
the  best  we  can  do  ? ' 

" '  I  think  so,  Colonel.' 


-426  — 

"  By  this  time  we  had  come  up  to  the  Third  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  known  in  the 
army  as  the  "  Butterflies,"  on  account  of  their  gay  uniforms,  and  Colonel  Lowell 
said  to  the  officer  in  command :  'Major,  let  your  first  squadron  sling  their  carbines, 
draw  their  sabres  and  charge.' 

"The  order  was  given,  'Forward,'  but  not  a  man  moved.  They  were  completely 
disheartened  by  having  seen  the  other  troops  driven  back. 

"The  captain  in  command  of  the  squadron  said:  'Corporal  Jones,  are  you 
afraid  ? '  and  the  corporal  made  no  reply. 

"  The  men  wavered,  and  Colonel  Lowell  said :  '  Give  a  cheer  boys,  and  go  at 
them,'  and  spurred  his  horse  at  a  gallop  toward  the  enemy,  followed  by  myself, 
both  of  us  waving  our  sabres.  The  squadron  at  once  cheered  and  followed.  After 
going  a  short  distance,  Colonel  Lowell  drew  out  to  one  side,  to  be  ready  to  send 
other  troops  to  the  support  of  the  squadron,  and  I  was  left  to  lead  the  charge.  I  was 
mounted  on  a  large,  strong  sorrel  horse,  and  was  soon  100  yards  in  advance  of  the 
squadron.  Reaching  the  partly  constructed  barricade,  I  pulled  up  my  horse.  Looking 
back,  I  saw  my  men  coming  on  with  a  splendid  squadron  front;  looking  forward,  I  saw 
the  enemy  in  columns  of  fours,  turning  to  retreat.  The  ground  was  down  hill  towards 
the  enemy  ;  I  had  never  seen  a  better  opportunity  for  a  sabre  charge,  and  as  the 
squadron  neared  me,  I  shouted  :  '  Come  on  boys,  they  are  running,'  and  jumping  my 
horse  over  the  low  barricade,  dashed  in  among  the  rebels,  only  to  find  myself  making 
the  attack  single-handed. 

"I  had  ridden  past  a  dozen  of  the  enemy  before  I  discovered  my  desperate  situ 
ation.  They  were  retreating  in  loose  column  of  fours,  and  as  I  rode  in  among  them 
there  were  three  files  on  my  left  hand  and  one  on  my  right.  I  felt  that  death  was 
certain.  Like  a  lightning  flash  my  whole  life  seemed  to  pass  in  review  before  me, 
closing  with  the  thought,  '  and  this  is  the  end.'  There  was  but  one  chance.  Fifty 
men  behind  me  were  shouting,  '  Kill  that  damned  Yankee ! ' 

"  To  turn  among  them  and  retrace  my  steps  was  impossible,  but  my  horse  was 
swift  and  I  thought  if  I  could  keep  on  until  I  came  to  a  side  street  I  might  dash 
into  that  and  by  making  a  circle  again  reach  our  lines.  As  I  rode  I  kept  my  sabre 
swinging,  striking  six  blows  right  and  left.  Two  of  the  enemy  escaped  by  quickly 
dodging  their  heads,  but  I  succeeded  in  wounding  four  of  them  —  Captain  William 
A.  Moss,  Hugh  S.  Hamilton,  color-bearer  of  the  Fourth  Virginia  Cavalry,  and  two 
others  unknown  to  me. 

"The  first  side  street  reached  was  on  the  left.  Keeping  my  head  close  to  my 
horse's  neck  I  then  broke  through  the  three  files  on  my  left  and  reached  the  side 
street  in  safety,  fully  twenty  yards  from  the  nearest  horseman. 

"  For  a  moment  I  thought  I  was  safe,  when  suddenly  a  bullet,  doubtless  intended 
for  me,  struck  my  mount  and  he  staggered  under  the  shock.  With  rein  and  spur  I 
urged  him  on,  but  it  was  in  vain ;  he  fell  with  a  plunge  that  left  me  lying  upon  the 
ground.  Before  I  could  rise  two  of  the  enemy  reined  in  their  horses  by  me  and  leaning 


—  427  — 


over  in  their  saddles  struck  at  me,  one  with  a  carbine,  the  other  with  a  sabre.  I 
could  parry  but  one,  and  with  my  sabre  stopped  the  crushing  blow  from  the  carbine 
at  the  same  instant  that  the  sabre  gave  me  a  cut  across  the  forehead.  I  at  once 
rose  to  my  feet  and  shouted  to  the  soldier  who  had  wounded  me :  Tor  God's  sake 
do  not  kill  a  prisoner ! ' 

'"  Surrender,  then,'  he  said. 

"'I  do  surrender,'  I  replied,  whereupon  he  demanded  my  sword  and  pistol,  which 
I  gave  to  him,  and  had  scarcely  done  so  when  I  was  struck  in  the  back  with  such 
force  as  to  thrust  me  two  steps  forward.  Upon  turning  to  discover  the  cause  of  this 
assault,  I  found  that  a  soldier  had  ridden  up  on  the  trot  and  stabbed  me  with  his 
sabre,  which  would  have  passed  entirely  through  my  body  but  for  the  fact  that  in 
his  ignorance  of  the  proper  use  of  the  weapon  he  had  failed  to  make  the  half-turn  of 
the  wrist  necessary  to  give  the  sabre  smooth  entrance  between  the  ribs.  I  also 
saw  at  this  moment  another  soldier  taking  aim  at  me  with  a  revolver. 

"My  chances  seemed  gone,  but  a  sudden  impulse  took  possession  of  me  and 
I  called  for  help  and  protection  as  a  Free  Mason.  Captain  Henry  C.  Lee,  the 
acting  adjutant-general  of  the  enemy's  force,  heard  my  cry  and  at  once  came  to 
my  assistance,  ordering  a  soldier  to  take  me  to  the  rear  and  see  that  my  wounds 
were  dressed.  The  soldier  in  whose  charge  I  was  despoiled  me  of  my  watch  and 
pocket-book,  and  with  some  assistance,  being  weak  from  loss  of  blood,  I  mounted 
behind  my  guard,  and  later  in  the  evening  I  w^as  put  into  an  ambulance  with  Cap 
tain  William  A.  Moss,  at  that  time  a  lieutenant,  and  driven  several  miles  to  a  small 
house  in  the  mountains.  I  found  Captain  Moss  to  be  a  brother  Mason  and  he  did 
everything  possible  for  my  comfort,  although  he  had  received  a  severe  sabre  cut 
from  me." 


UNDER  A  MUSCADINE  GRAPE 
VINE 


THREE  millions  of  rations,  vast  quantities  of  ammu 
nition,  guns  and  all  other  supplies  of  warfare 
stored  at  Allatoona,  Ga.,  were  the  tempting  objects  of 
a  bold  and  unexpected  movement  of  General  Hood, 
the  Confederate  Commander.  Once  in  possession  of 
the  fort,  with  its  costly  stores,  he  would  have  robbed 
the  Union  Army  of  its  base  of  supplies  and  forced  it  JOSEPH  s.  KEEN, 

to  retreat.      He  would    have    frustrated    Sherman's       sergeant.  c<>.  i>.  mu  .Mu-h.  infantry. 

.  Born  in  Stanford,  England,  July  24, 184«. 

march  to  the  sea  and  -       -  But  all  this  is  mere  specu 
lation.     Hood  did  not  capture  the  coveted  treasure  ;  the  Union  Army  did  not  lose 
its  base  of  supplies ;  it  did  not  retreat,  and  Sherman's  march  became  a  historical  fact. 


—  428  — 

One  of  the  reasons,  and  perhaps  the  principal  one,  for  the  failure  of  Hood's  plan, 
was  that  Sherman  was  in  time  advised  of  the  enemy's  movements  and  put  on 
his  guard.  That  this  view  is  shared  by  the  great  Union  Army  leader  himself  ap 
pears  from  his  own  statement.  "There  was  great  difficulty,"  General  Sherman 
says,  "in  obtaining  correct  information  about  Hood's  movements  from  Palmetto 
Station.  I  could  not  get  spies  to  penetrate  his  camps,  but  on  the  1st  of  October  I 
was  satisfied  that  the  bulk  of  his  infantry  was  at  and  across  the  Chattahoochee 
River  near  Campbellton.  On  that  day  I  telegraphed  to  Grant :  'Hood  is  evidently 
across  the  Chattahoochee,  below  Sweetwater.  If  he  tries  to  get  on  our  road  this  side 
of  the  Etowah  I  shall  attack  him.  *  *  *  " 

Hood  did  try  to  get  "on  our  road." 

And  over  the  heads  of  the  Confederates  Sherman  signaled  his  celebrated  mes 
sage  to  Corse  at  Allatoona  :  "  Hold  the  fort ;  I  am  coming." 

The  man  who  furnished  General  Sherman  with  the  information  in  October,  and 
upon  wiiose  report  the  important  subsequent  action  was  based,  was  Sergeant  Joseph 
S.  Keen,  of  Company  D,  Thirteenth  Michigan  Infantry.  So  valuable  was  his  infor 
mation  that  a  Medal  of  Honor  was  awarded  Sergeant  Keen  in  appreciation  of  the 

service. 

How  Keen  was  enabled  to  learn  the  details  of  Hood's  movements  and  impart 
them  to  the  Federal  commander  forms  the  text  of  a  peculiarly  interesting  story  which 
he  himself  tells  as  follows : 

"At the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  I  was  wounded,  taken  prisoner  and  sent  to  Rich 
mond,  where  I  was  kept  about  three  months.  On  December  12th  we  were  shipped  to 
Danville,  Va.  Five  months  later,  on  May  12,  1864, 1  was  transferred  to  the  prison  at 
Andersonville,  Ga.,  from  where,  on  September  9,  1864,  with  several  others,  I  made 
my  escape.  That  day  we  were  put  into  box  cars  and  early  in  the  afternoon  reached 
Macon,  some  sixty  miles  north.  Here  we  had  to  wait  for  other  trains  to  get  out 
of  our  way.  Our  train  was  standing  on  the  outside  track  but  one,  upon  which 
there  was  a  long  train  of  box  cars.  I  noticed  several  prisoners  were  allowed  to  get 
out  of  the  car  and  stand  near  the  door  conversing  with  the  crowd  that  had  been  at 
tracted  there  by  our  arrival.  I  watched  my  opportunity,  carelessly  left  the  car  and 
for  a  wrhile  stood  close  beside  it.  A  casual  look  at  the  guards  in  the  doorway  showed 
me  at  that  moment  that  they  were  both  looking  inside.  Quicker  than  a  flash  I 
dropped  and  dodged  under  the  train  and  fortunately  was  not  observed.  While  yet 
crawling  across  to  the  other  side,  the  outer  track,  I  heard  the  guard  ordering  all  to 
get  back  inside.  I  put  my  head  out  the  other  side  of  the  train  and  looked  to  the 
right  and  left  its  whole  length  ;  no  one  could  see  me.  I  then  crawled  under  the 
train  of  box  cars  on  the  outside  track  and,  gaining  the  other  side,  rolled  down  the 
embankment  into  the  ditch. 

"I  worked  my  way  along  this  ditch  until  I  reached  a  culvert,  into  the  darkest  part  of 
which  I  crawled,  camping  in  about  one  foot  of  water.  My  loneliness  was  soon  relie  ved  by 
the  arrival  of  eight  others  who  had  taken  the  same  means  of  escape.  We  kept  hiding 
here  till  darkness  broke  in,  when,  the  lower  part  of  our  bodies  resembling  a  lot  of 


—  429  — 


par-boiled  tripe,  we  crawled  out  of  the  culvert.  We  made  our  way  to  a  little  grove 
on  the  outskirts  of  Macon  and  then  separated ;  six  going  one  way  and  I  and  two 
others,  S.  W.  Ludden  and  John  Hord,  taking  another  direction.  Our  plan  was  to 

march  twenty-five  miles  west, 
then  gradually  swing  around, 
go  100  miles  due  north  and 
thence  follow  an  easterly  course 
which,  according  to  our  calcula 
tions,  would  bring  us  in  rear  of 
Atlanta.  It  was  a  simple  plan, 
indeed,  it  looked  so  easy ;  a  pleas 
ure  trip  we  thought  as  we 
started  out.  But  we  were  soon 
disappointed  and  for  twenty- 
one  days  we  wandered  about, 
aimlessly  sometimes,  tired  and 
worn  out  always,  with  nothing 
but  the  moon  and  stars  to  guide 
us  and  the  hope  of  eventually 
reaching  our  troops  to  keep  up 
our  strength  and  courage.  We 
learned  more  about  astronomy 
during  these  twenty-one  days 
than  we  ever  knew  before — Jupi 
ter,  Saturn,  Mars,  Venus,  all 
served  us  a  good  turn.  Slowly 
and  amidst  untold  hardships 
we  worked  our  way  to  the  Chat- 
tahoochee  River,  which  we 
crossed  and  followed  till  we 
struck  the  Western  &  Atlantic 
Railroad. 

"  Our  appearance  at  this  time 
was  anything  but  inviting.  Our 
clothes  were  torn  to  shreds  and 
partly  bound  up  by  fine  bark 
strings  from  young  saplings,  and 
our  shoes  were  tied  up  in  the 
same  manner.  The  lower  parts 

of  our  legs  were  bound  around  with  pieces  of  bark.  Our  best  time  was  usually  made 
just  before  and  after  daylight  early  in  the  morning,  as  fewer  people  were  around  in 
those  hours.  Thus  we  plodded  along  the  river  bank  until  one  day  we  saw  Confeder- 


GENERAL  HOOD  WAS  CROSSING  HIS  ARMY.' 


—  430  — 

ate  soldiers  in  large  numbers  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  The  large  cornfields 
on  the  hills  seemed  literally  alive  with  forage  teams,  presenting  quite  an  animated 
scene.  Our  position,  close  to  the  wood-skirted  bank  of  the  river,  seemed  safer  than 
any  other  within  view,  so,  keeping  under  cover,  we  kept  working  our  way  forward  in 
a  very  cautious  manner.  A  short  distance  in  front,  across  a  cornfield  and  on  the 
edge  of  a  piece  of  woods,  could  be  seen  column  after  column  of  rebel  infantry  march 
ing  from  the  river  directly  back  into  the  country.  After  watching  them  for  a  time 
we  proceeded  to  hide  ourselves  on  the  river  bank,  and  after  crawling  around  the 
rather  thin  growth  of  brush  and  grass  got  into  a  fairly  good  place,  and  when  sitting 
up  had  a  splendid  view  of  the  pontoon  bridge  on  which  General  Hood  was  crossing 
his  army.  This  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  from  that  time  until 
night  the  rebel  army  poured  across  the  bridge  in  one  constant  stream — infantry, 
artillery,  cavalry,  generals  and  staffs,  all  marching  in  regular  order ;  no  confusion,  no 
noise,  but  with  a  military  precision  imposing  in  its  magnificence  that  won  even 
our  admiration.  Presently  two  rebel  officers  in  a  rowboat  came  floating  down  the 
stream  on  our  side.  As  we- did  not  want  them  to  know  our  opinion  of  the  grand  ex 
hibition  of  military  splendor  of  their  army,  we  thought  it  best  not  to  hail  them,  but 
lay  flat  on  the  ground,  expecting  that  they  would  soon  drift  beyond  us.  Now  it  so 
happened  that  we  had  selected  a  very  poor  hiding  place,  from  the  fact  that  a  large 
muscadine  grape-vine  grew  near  this  spot  and  branched  out  in  every  direction,  part 
of  its  branches  extending  over  to  and  hanging  nearly  into  the  river,  and  it  was  at 
this  time  loaded  with  grapes,  and  no  doubt  presented  a  tempting  appearance  from 
the  river.  Naturally  it  attracted  the  two  officers  to  this  particular  spot,  who  com 
menced  gathering  grapes  and  hanging  on  to  branches  to  prevent  drifting  away. 

"  Every  time  the  branches  were  pulled  the  grapes  would  come  pattering  down 
on  our  heads  some  twenty-five  feet  from  the  officers'  position,  and  almost  in  plain 
view,  had  they  looked  in  our  direction.  They  were  looking  at  the  top  of  the  vine 
for  the  large  grapes,  completely  overlooking  the  richer  fruit  at  the  roots.  They 
were  talking  about  the  flank  movement  their  army  was  executing  and  expressed  the 
utmost  confidence  in  its  success. 

" '  Sherman  will  be  obliged  to  evacuate  Atlanta,'  one  said  and  the  other  assented. 

"We  were  intensely  interested  in  their  conversation;  not  to  that  extent,  however, 
as  to  forget  our  exposed  position.  What  I  feared  most  was  that  they  would  hear  the 
beating  of  my  heart.  The  suspense  became  dreadful.  But  finally  the  officers 
had  their  fill ;  they  let  go  of  the  branches  and  the  boat  and  its  occupants  drifted 
down  the  stream. 

"  Three  minutes  later  we  were   in   good   hiding  in   a  shock   of  cornstalks  in 

the  adjoining  field,   and  from  this  time   on — about  four  o'clock — until  dark  we 

kept  very  quiet.     After  dark  we  walked  boldly  up  to  the  road  and  at  the  first  break 

that  occurred  in  their  column  we  got  over  the  fence,  crossed  the  road  and  entered 

the  woods  on  the  other  side.     We  had  great  difficulty  in  making  our  way  in  the 


—  431  — 

darkness  of  the  night  and  decided  to  halt  for  fear  of  running  against  some  of  the 
rebel  pickets. 

"At  break  of  day  we  resumed  our  journey.  Toward  morning  a  fog  commenced 
to  gather  and  soon  got  so  thick  that  we  could  not  see  forty  feet  ahead  of  us.  That 
was  our  opportunity.  We  pushed  ahead,  and  for  a  time  were  simply  mixed  up  with 
the  rebels.  They  were  just  getting  breakfast  and  all  seemed  bustle  and  confusion. 
We  lost  no  time  in  putting  ourselves  outside  of  their  lines  and  were  at  least  two  miles 
away  when  the  fog  cleared  up.  We  marched  all  day  and  night  and  by  seven  o'clock 
the  following  morning  discovered  our  troops  on  the  other  side  of  the  Chattahoochee 
River.  We  crossed  the  stream  and  once  more  we  were  among  our  own  troops,  our 
friends,  our  comrades. 

"  We  were  at  once  brought  to  General  Kilpatrick,  who  questioned  us  sharply 
concerning  our  identity,  and,  having  satisfied  himself,  discussed  with  us  the  details 
of  the  enemy's  operations,  of  which  we  had  been  eye-witnesses.  The  information 
thus  obtained  was  forwarded  to  General  Sherman,  who  arranged  his  plans  accord 
ingly. 

"We  made  our  escape  at  Macon  103  miles  south,  September  10,  1864  ;  it  had 
taken  us  twenty-one  days  to  make  this  apparently  short  distance,  but  I  think  we 
must  have  traveled  300  miles  at  least." 


THE  FALL  OF  FORT  HARRISON 


/CAPTAIN  CECIL  CLAY,  of  Company  K,  Fifty-eighth  Penn- 
^^  sylvania  Infantry,  was  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor  for 
leading  the  attack  on  Fort  Harrison,  Va.,  bearing  the  flag  of 
another  regiment  which  he  had  picked  up  by  the  way.  The 
attack  was  made,  and  the  fort  carried,  by  the  first  division  of 
the  Eighteenth  Corps  on  September  29,  1864.  Captain  Clay 
writes : 

"  We  were  drawn  up  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from 
Fort   Harrison,  and  before  us  was  a  stretch  of  open  ground. 
Our  skirmish  line  advanced  alternately  firing  and  halting  to  reload,  while  before 
them  the  rebel  skirmishers  retired  with  equal  deliberation.    As  soon  as  our  advance 


CECIL  CLAY 

Captain,  Co.  K,  58th  Penn. 

Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Bvt- 

Brig-General  U.  S.V. 

Born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 

Feb.  13, 1842. 


From  September  28  to  30,  1884,  the  Army  of  the  James  was  engaged  in  the  neighborhood  of  New 
Market  Road,  Va.  The  capture  of  Forts  Harrison  and  tiilmore,  and  the  engagements  at  Chapin's  Farm  and 
Laurel  Hill  were  included  in  what  is  generally  known  as  the  battle  of  New  Market  Heights.  The  Union 
Army  lost  2,429  in  killed  and  wounded  and  the  Confederates  about  2,000,  but  the  result  of  the  battle  was  in 
favor  of  the  Federals. 


—  432' 


Commenced  the  rebel  guns  opened  upon  us  all  along  the  line.  We  lost  a  large  num 
ber  of  men  crossing  the  open  space,  but  I  could  see  no  signs  of  wavering.  When 
we  reached  a  point  about  100  yards  from  the  fort,  where  we  were  protected  from 


steepness  of  the  ground,  we  halted  to  get 
in  our  line.     We  lay  down  for  a  moment, 
a  few  hundred  yards  away  what  appeared 
works   by  fours.     We  thought  at 
trying  to  get  in  ahead  of  us,  but 
rebels. 

rode  up  to  us,  his  old- 


the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns  by  the 
our  breath  and  close  up  the  gaps 
and  as  I  looked  to  the  right  I  saw 
to  be  a  brigade  moving  into  the 
first  that  it  must  be  the  Tenth  Corps 
it  occurred  to  me  that  they  wrere 

"  At  that  moment  Colonel  Roberts 
fashioned  black  stock  twisted  around 
until  the  big  bow  was  at  the  back  of 
his  neck.     Grasping  a  revolver  by  the 
muzzle,  and,  waving  it  as  one  would  a 
war  club,  he  shouted :     'Now  men,  just 
two  minutes  to  take  that  fort! 
Just  two  minutes,  men  ! ' 

"We  sprang  to  our  feet 
and  dressed  our  line  in  an 
instant.  '  Forward  ! '  rang  out 
from  the  officers,  and  away 
we  went. 

"  We  struck  the  works  on  the 
north  face,  where  the  ditch  was  fully 
ten  feet  deep.     The  rebels  fired  at  us 
and  threw  at  us  anything  they  could  lay 
their  hands  on  while  we  were  jumping  into 
the  ditch.     The  first  Sergeant  of  my  company 
was  hit  on  the  head  by  a  fuse  mallet  and 
knocked  down.     He  jumped  to  his  feet,  mad 
as  a  hornet,  and  exclaimed :     '  Damn  a  man  who 
will  use  a  thing  like  that  for  a  weapon.'    A  rebel 
officer  mounted  on  an  old  gray  horse  rode  out  of  a 
sally   port  near  by,  and  pulling  up  on  the  bridge 
which  spanned  the  ditch  blazed  away  at  us  with  his 
revolver.     One  of  my  men,  named  Johnson,  who  had 
been  shot  through  the  right  arm,  took  his  revolver  in 
his  left  hand  and  emptied  it  at  the  rebel,  but  every  shot 
went   wide,   and    Johnson    was    left    with    an    empty 
revolver. 

"Billy  Bourke,  a  sandy-haired  Irishman,  had  picked  up  the  blue  State  flag  of  the 
One  hundred  and  eighty-eighth  Pennsylvania,  the  bearer  of  which  had  been  shot  at 


'GAVE  ME  THE  COLORS 
AND  HOISTED   ME  UP." 


—  433 


the  edge  of  the  ditch.  Side  by  side  we  two  climbed  the  parapet,  until  we  could 
look  over  into  the  fort.  No  sooner  had  we  raised  our  heads  than  a  ball  struck 
Bourke,  cutting  a  gash  across  his  forehead.  He  knocked  against  me,  and  we  rolled 
back  into  the  ditch  together.  Bourke  was  unable  to  see,  as  the  blood  was  running 
into  his  eyes,  so  he  gave  me  the  colors  and  with  the  aid  of  a  sword  which  I  had 
plunged  into  the  embankment  as  a  footstep  he  hoisted  me  up  on  the  parapet  once 
more.  Meantime  Johnston  had  also  climbed  up,  and  was  shot  through  the  left  arm  be 
low  the  elbow  as  soon  as  he  appeared  on  the  parapet.  Disregarding  his  wounds  he 
jumped  on  the  banquette,  leveled  his  empty  revolver  at  two  wounded  officers  who 
were  crouching  there  and  made  them  surrender  to  him.  Just  then  a  little  fellow 
fired  at  Johnson  with  a  revolver  and  knocked  him  over.  In  the  meantime  the 
division  was  stubbornly  fighting  its  way  into  the  fort  and  the  rebels  were  beginning 
to  retreat  when  one  of  them  turned  and  fired  two  shots  at  me,  drilling  a  couple  of 
holes  in  my  right  arm.  Shifting  the  colors  to  my  left  hand,  I  continued  to  lead  the 
advance  until  that  hand  was  shot  through  also,  and  I  had  to  stop  and  lay  the  colors 
up  against  the  parapet.  Some  of  the  One  hundred  and  eighty-eighth  came  up  at 
this  moment  and  I  handed  them  their  flag,  which  I  had  carried  throughout  the  en 
tire  charge." 

Captain  Clay's  wound  proved  to  be  so  serious  that  it  shortly  afterward  entailed 
the  loss  of  the  entire  arm. 


A   MESSAGE    DELIVERED 

UNDER    DIFFICULTY 


WITH  two  dangerous  wounds  in  his  body  Lieutenant 
Samuel  B.  Home,  of  Company  H,  Eleventh  Con 
necticut  Infantry,  was  carried  off  the  field  at  Cold  Harbor, 
Va.,  June  3,  1864,  and  sent  to  a  hospital.  Though  his 
recovery  proceeded  slowly,  he  could  not  bear  to  be  con 
fined  to  his  bed  and  three  months  later  returned  to  his 
regiment,  though  still  an  invalid.  Ten  days  later,  at 
Chapin's  Farm,  Va.,  September  29,  1864,  he  won  his  medal 
by  a  display  of  courage  almost  superhuman.  It  happened 
thus  :  Upon  his  return  to  the  regiment  he  was  attached 
to  the  staff  of  General  Ord  as  aide-de-camp,  and  during  the 
attack  on  Fort  Harrison  was  sent  to  deliver  a  verbal  mes 
sage  to  the  colonel  of  one  of  the  advancing  regiments. 

"  Though  my  injuries  still  pained  me  very  much  I  obeyed  the  order  cheerfully," 
Lieutenant  Home  goes  on  to  tell.  "  I  spurred  my  horse  forward  and  soon  came 
within  range  of  the  enemy's  guns.  While  going  at  full  gallop  my  horse  was  killed 


SAMUEL  B.  HORNE, 

Lieutenant,  Co.  H,  llth  Conn. 
Infantry. 

Born  in  Tullamore,  Ireland, 
March  3, 1843. 


—43-1  — 


by  grape  shot  and  fell  upon  me  with  crushing  weight,  cracking  some  of  my  ribs, 
injuring  me  internally  and  pinioning  me  to  the  ground.  Here  I  lay  perfectly  help 
less  and  suffering  intense  pain,  until  Colonel  Wells  rode  up  and  relieved  me  from 
my  precarious  position.  Still  the  message  had  to  be  delivered  and  although  lacer 
ated,  in  great  pain  and  partly  denuded,  I  proceeded  on  foot  to  carry  out  my  mission. 
I  could  only  advance  slowly  and  with  difficulty  and  had  to  pass  under  the  very  guns 
of  the  fort  before  I  reached  the  colonel  of  the  advancing  regiment.  I  reported  to 
General  Ord  and  was  with  him  when  he  was  wounded  on  the  parapet  and  with  him 
was  taken  to  the  rear." 


THOUGHT  ONLY  OF  SAVING 
THE  FLAG 


k  T 


CHRISTIAN  A.  FLEETWOOD, 

Sergeant-Major,  4th  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 


attack  upon  the  rebel  works  at  New  Market 
Heights,  Va.,  September  29,  1864,  one  of 
the  most  stubborn  in  the  history  of  the  war,  was 
delivered  by  the  Fourth  and  Sixth  U.  S.  Colored 
Troops,  who  lost  more  than  half  their  men  in  that 
bloody  charge.  An  account  of  the  occurrence  is 
given  by  Sergeant-Major  Christian  A.  Fleetwood 
of  the  Fourth  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  as  follows : 

"Our  regiment  lined  up  for  the  charge  with 
eleven  officers  and  350  enlisted  men.      There  was 

but  one  field  officer  with  us,  Major  A.  S.  Boernstein,  who  was  in  command.  Our  ad 
jutant,  George  Allen,  supervised  the  right,  and  I,  as  sergeant-major,  the  left.  When 
the  charge  was  started  our  color-guard  was  complete.  Only  one  of  the  twelve 
came  off  that  field  on  his  own  feet.  Most  of  the  others  are  there  still.  Early 
in  the  rush  one  of  the  sergeants  went  down,  a  bullet  cutting  his  flag -staff  in  two  and 
passing  through  his  body.  The  other  sergeant,  Alfred  B.  Hilton,  of  Company  H,  a 
magnificent  specimen  of  manhood,  over  six  feet  tall  and  splendidly  proportioned, 
caught  up  the  other  flag  and  pressed  forward  with  them  both. 

"It  was  a  deadly  hailstorm  of  bullets,  sweeping  men  down  as  hailstones  sweep 
the  leaves  from  the  trees,  and  it  wras  not  long  before  he  also  went  down,  shot 
through  the  leg.  As  he  fell  he  held  up  the  flags  and  shouted  :  '  Boys,  save  the 

colors ! ' 

"Before  they  could  touch  the  ground,  Corporal  Charles  Veal,  of  Company  D,  had 
seized  the  blue  flag,  and  I  the  American  flag,  which  had  been  presented  to  us  by  the 
patriotic  women  of  our  home  in  Baltimore. 

"It  was  very  evident  that  there  was  too  much  wrork  cut  out  for  our  regiments.  Strong 
earthworks,  protected  in  front  by  two  lines  of  abatis  and  one  line  of  palisades,  and  in 


—  435  — 


the  rear  by  a  lot  of  men  who  proved  that  they  knew  how  to 
shoot  and  largely  outnumbered  us.  We  struggled  through 
the  two  lines  of  abatis,  a  few  getting  through  the  palisades, 
but  it  was  sheer  madness,  and  those  of  us  who  were  able 
had  to  get  out  as  best  we  could.  Reaching  the  line  of  our 
reserves  and  no  commissioned  officer  being  in  sight,  I  rallied 
the  survivors  around  the  flag,  rounding  up  at  first  eighty- 
five  men  and  three  commissioned  officers.  During  the  day 
about  thirty  more  men  came  along  —  all  that  was  left. 

"I  have  never  been  able  to  understand  how  Veal  and  I 
lived  under  such  a  hail  of  bullets,  unless  it  was  because  we 
were  both  such  little  fellows.  I  think  I  weighed  then  about 
125  pounds  and  Veal  about  the  same.  We  did  not  get  a 
scratch.  A  bullet  passed  between  my  legs,  cutting  my  boot 
leg,  trousers  and  even  my  stocking,  without  breaking  the  skin." 

The  brave  sergeant-major  and  his  no  less  brave  comrades,  Sergeant  Alfred  B. 
Hilton,  of  Company  H,  and  Corporal  Charles  Veal,  of  Company  D,  were  awarded  the 
Medal  of  Honor. 

At  the  same  battle  First  Sergeant  Alexander  Kelly,  of  Company  F,  Sixth  U.  S. 
Colored  Troops,  also  distinguished  himself  and  was  awarded  with  the  medal  for 
saving  the  flag  of  his  regiment  after  the  color-bearer  and  most  of  the  company  had 
been  either  killed  or  wounded. 


ALEXANDER  KELLY. 

First  Sergeant,  Co.  F,  Sixth  U.  S. 

Colored  Troops. 

Born  in  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.,  April 

7.1S46. 


THE   STORY  OF   A  YOUTHFUL  HERO 


'"THE  narrator  of  the  following  story,  Corporal  William  L. 
*  Graul,  of  Company  I,  One  hundred  and  eighty-eighth 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  was  a  mere  boy  of  eighteen  when 
he  earned  his  medal  for  an  act  of  distinguished  bravery  and 
dash  at  the  storming  of  Fort  Harrison,  Va.,  September  29, 
1864.  He  writes  : 

"  On  the  night  of  the  28th  of  September  we  were  ordered 

-r, .  T      .  T  WILLIAM  L.    GRAUL, 

to  cross  the  James  Kiver  on  a  muffled  pontoon   bridge  at 

Corporal,  Co.  1, 188th  Pa.  Infantry. 

Akren's  Landing.    Just  at  the  break  of  the  next  day  we     Bom  at  Reading,  pa.,joiyw, 


1846. 


commenced   a  cautious    advance  upon  the  enemy,  whose 

pickets  were  soon  encountered  and  driven  back,  and  pushing  on  at  quick  time 
through  a  wood  with  tangled  undergrowth  we  at  last  emerged  upon  open  ground  in 
front  of  the  rebel  works,  which  were  only  a  few  yards  away.  Fort  Harrison, 
strongly  built  and  bristling  with  cannon,  was  in  our  immediate  front,  and  we  were 
ordered  to  charge.  A  long  stretch  of  open  ground  was  passed  at  a  run,  and  though 


—  436  — 


the  enemy  brought  all  their  guns  and  small  arms  to  bear  they  failed  to  get  a  good 
range  on  our  advancing  troops,  firing  for  the  most  part  too  high. 

"  At  a  point  within  fifty  yards  of  the  fort  was  a  slight  ravine,  stretching  along  in 
its  front,  and  affording  some  protection.  Here  the  line  was  re-formed  and  the  men 
took  breath.  We  were  now  under  a  desperate  fire  and  an  advance  was  sure  to  entail 
heavy  slaughter,  but  pausing  only  for  a  moment  the  word  was  again  given  to 
charge,  and  without  flinching  the  line  sprang  forward.  A  terrible  volley  swept  our 
ranks  and  many  a  brave  man  fell.  For  an  instant  we  seemed  to  waver,  but  only  for 
an  instant,  and  recovering  we  dashed  on  and  up  the  hill. 

"  I  was  on  the  color-guard,  and  when  about  half  way  up  the  color-bearer,  William 
Sipes,  was  killed  and  the  regimental  flag  fell  on  me.  I  at  once  threw  my  gun  away 
and  seizing  the  colors  ran  up  the  hill,  jumped  into  the  ditch  of  the  foe,  then  climbed 
up  on  the  flag-staff  and  placed  the  colors  of  the  One  hundred  and  eighty-eighth 
Pennsylvania  alongside  of  the  rebel  flag. 

"  I  saw  that  the  enemy  were  weakening,  and  cheered  our  men  on.  We  captured 
Fort  Harrison  and  then  advanced  on  Fort  Gilmore  under  the  fire  of  the  rebel  gun 
boats.  We  were  compelled  to  fall  back  in  the  evening,  however,  and  in  our  retreat, 
the  color-bearer  of  the  Fourth  New  Hampshire  being  hit,  I  brought  their  colors 
back  with  me." 


A  SERGEANT  WHO  WISELY  DIS 
BELIEVED 


GEORGE  P.  DOW, 


T^VURING  the  operations  before  Richmond,  Va.,  in  Octo- 
•*-^  ber,  1864,  the  Seventh  New  Hampshire  Infantry 
was  stretched  out  in  a  single  line  in  order  to  ascertain 
accurately  the  strength  of  the  enemy's  defenses.  Com 
pany  C  was  at  the  extreme  left  and  had  a  rather  peculiar 
experience,  which  Sergeant  George  P.  Dow,  who  was  in 
command,  describes  as  follows  : 

u   »    i  i  i         i      •  i  Sergeant.  Co.  C,  7th  N.H.  Infantry. 

"Advancing  we  came  to  a  large  stream  and  a  bridge    Boraat Atkinson, N.H., Aug. T.IS/O! 
over  which  I  led  my  company.     We  marched  on,  but  the 

cannonading  was  so  terrific  that  we  could  not  hear  the  bugle  from  which  we  were 
to  take  orders.  Still  we  advanced  till  we  came  to  a  clearing  and  presently  found 
ourselves  in  front  of  the  rebel  breastworks  mounted  with  guns  and  large  bodies  of 
infantry  lying  behind  them.  For  some  reason  or  other  the  enemy  did  not  open  on 
us.  We  halted  and  it  was  then  that  I  made  the  startling  discovery  that  my  com 
pany  had  been  separated  from  the  regiment,  which,  as  I  afterward  learned,  had 
stopped  at  the  stream.  There  was  but  one  way  out  of  our  dangerous  situation  ;  we 


—  437  — 

had  to  retreat.  I  gave  the  order,  but  in  the  roar  of  cannons  and  the  smoke  of  firing 
we  became  confused  and  we  missed  the  bridge  and  had  to  swim  the  stream.  After 
thus  crossing  the  water  we  marched  for  some  distance  and  finally  arrived  at  a  farm 
house,  where  we  found  a  woman  apparently  only  too  willing  to  help  us  find  our  way. 

" '  Which  direction  has  our  line  of  battle  taken  ? '  I  asked  her. 

"  She  pointed  toward  Richmond.  I  knew  she  was  not  telling  the  truth  and  took 
my  company  in  an  opposite  direction.  A  little  later  we  met  one  of  our  aides,  who 
warned  us  that  we  were  in  danger  of  being  gobbled  up  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  so  we 
started  at  a  double-quick  and  found  the  regiment  drawn  up  in  the  woods. 

"My  company  in  this  advance  had  got  nearer  to  Richmond  than  any  Union 
troops  had  yet  done,  and  the  information  we  brought  back  was  of  great  importance 
to  the  Army  of  the  James.'' 


REACHED  THE  CAPTAIN  JUST 
IN  TIME 


T^ 


JOHN  S.  DARROUGH, 

Sergeant,  Co.  F,  113th  Illinois 

Infantry. 
Born  at  Maysville,  Ky..  April  6, 1841. 


deed  of  Sergeant  John  S.  Darrough,  of  Company  F, 
One  hundred  and  thirteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  was  a 
truly  noble  one. 

In  a  bad  plight  himself  and  in  want  of  help,  he  forgot 
his  own  serious  predicament  when  he  saw  an  officer 
in  danger  and  hastened  to  his  rescue.  The  story  is  told 
by  the  sergeant  in  these  simple  words  : 

"  Our  regiment  had  dwindled  down  to  300  men,  when 
it  was  dispatched  from  Memphis,  Tenn.,  to  cut  the  com 
munications  at  Eastport,  by  tearing  up  the  tracks  and  de 

stroying  the  bridge.  The  transports,  convoyed  by  small  wooden  gunboats,  pro 
ceeded  up  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  Rivers,  and  landed  us  about  three  miles 
below  Eastport,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river. 

"  Our  force  was  partly  landed  when  a  masked  battery  in  a  clump  of  trees  opened 
fire  on  us  at  close  range,  doing  great  execution.  Steam-pipes  were  cut  and  many  of 
the  men  scalded.  The  boats  backed  out  from  the  bank  without  waiting  to  haul  in 
their  gang-planks.  Most  of  our  men  made  their  way  to  a  point  down  stream  where 
they  were  partly  out  of  range,  and  one  of  the  gunboats  dashed  in  and  took  them  off, 
while  the  other  engaged  the  battery. 

"Those  of  us  who  were  unable  to  get  to  the  point  in  time  to  be  taken  off  were 
left  to  shift  for  ourselves.  A  deep  bayou  prevented  us  from  going  farther  down 
the  bank,  and  our  only  means  of  escape  seemed  to  be  by  swimming  the  Tennessee, 
which  was  a  mile  wide  at  this  point. 


—  439  — 

"  I  made  up  my  mind  at  once  that  the  Tennessee  was  by  far  preferable  to  either 
being  shot  to  death  or  made  a  prisoner,  and  concluded  to  swim  across  the  stream. 
How  to  carry  my  gun  and  clothes  was  the  next  perplexing  question,  and  I  com 
menced  to  look  for  a  log  or  limb  to  float  them  on,  when,  to  my  great  joy,  I  presently 
discovered  a  canoe  hidden  in  a  canebrake.  I  quickly  launched  and  boarded 
the  boat  and,  making  vigorous  use  of  the  one  oar  it  contained,  paddled  out  into  the 
river,  where  I  could  see  the  bend.  Our  boats  were  quite  a  distance  away  and  under 
headway,  though  the  gunboat  and  battery  were  still  carrying  on  their  cannonading. 
I  felt  satisfied  that  I  would  either  overtake  the  boats  or  cross  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river  and  have  a  chance  at  least  to  join  the  Union  forces  some  fifty  or  a  hundred 
miles  away. ' 

"  Then  something  occurred  which,  for  the  time  being,  changed  my  entire  plan. 
Looking  ashore  in  the  direction  of  the  rebels,  I  noticed  one  of  our  men  in  a  helpless 
condition.  He  had  crossed  the  bayou  and  advanced  quite  a  way  down  the  river, 
when  his  strength  had  apparently  given  out.  There  remained  but  one  thing  to  do  : 
to  get  to  the  rescue  of  my  comrade. 

"  I  confess,  it  was  not  a  pleasant  task  to  paddle  back  toward  the  rebels,  but  I 
hastened  ashore  and.  then  discovered  the  comrade  to  be  Captain  A.  W.  Becket,  of 
Company  B.  He  was  faint  and  exhausted  and  about  to  give  out  completely.  I 
placed  him  in  the  canoe  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  other  shore  safely." 


A  DISPLAY  OF  COOLNESS  AND 
NERVE 


A  MONG  the  Union  forces  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  in 
**•  October,  1864,  was  Captain  Mack's  Black  Horse 
Battery  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  officially  known  as  the 
Eighteenth  Independent  Battery  of  New  York.  On 
the  11  th  of  October  the  officer  in  command  of  the  bat 
tery  directed  Corporal  Champany  to  repack  the  limber 
chest  belonging  to  his  gun.  It  contained  sixteen  cart 
ridges,  each  one  holding  two  pounds  of  powder  and 
thirty-two  twenty-pound  shell  and  shot.  About  twenty 
of  the  shells  were  what  are  known  as  fuse  shells,  filled 
to  the  nozzle  with  powder  and  iron  bullets,  tow  being 

put  in  to  keep  the  powder  from  spilling  out.    The  remainder  of  the  missiles  were 

solid  shot,  percussion  shells  and  canister. 

Having  completed  the  repacking,  Corporal  Champany  found  that  he  could  not 

close  the  lid  without  help  and  called  to  Private  Charles  White  to  assist  him.    The 


THOMAS  GILBERT, 

Private,  18th  Ind.  Battery,  N.  Y. 
Born  in  Scotland,  1835. 


—440— 


violent  pressure  they  together  put  upon  the  lid  in  some  way  caused  a  terrific  ex 
plosion,  killing  Champany  almost  instantly,  throwing  White  seventy  feet  away, 
where  he  landed  in  a  mud  puddle,  and  blowing  the  chest  to  atoms.  The  first  man 
to  reach  the  scene  of  the  tragedy  was  Private  Thomas  Gilbert,  who  narrates  what 
happened  as  follows : 

"I  ran  to  poor  Champany,  who,  horribly  burned  and  mangled,  was  still  breathing, 
but  just  as  I  reached  him  I  noticed  that  the  tow  of  some  of  the  unexploded  shells 
was  burning.  Seizing  a  pail  of  water  from  a  gunner  near  by  and  calling  loudly  for 
more  water,  I  dashed  the  contents  of  the  pail  on  the  burning  shells.  Then,  another 
pail  of  water  having  been  brought,  I  picked  up  the  twenty  shells  and  dipped  the 
burning  end  of  each  into  the  water.  By  this  action  the  caissons  of  the  entire  bat 
tery  and  the  lives  of  many  men  who  had  quickly  gathered  about,  to  say  nothing  of 
my  own  life,  were  saved.  The  explosion  was  heard  miles  away  and  it  became 
necessary  to  surround  the  battery  with  guards  to  keep  the  curious  away." 


ROUNDED   UP   FORTY   REBELS 


A  NOTHER  interesting  incident  at  the  battle  of 
**  Chapin's  Farm,  Va.,  September,  30, 1864,  was  Pri 
vate  Franklin  Johndro's  gathering  in  of  forty  rebels. 
The  battle  had  raged  for  some  time.  The  second 
charge  of  Longstreet's  Army  had  been  repulsed  by 
the  Union  forces  and  the  Confederates  were  falling 
back.  The  One  hundred  and  eighteenth  New  York 
Volunteers  held  a  position  about  twenty  rods  from 
the  foot  of  a  slight  hill,  which  was  occupied  by  the 
enemy.  Every  charge  thus  far  made  had  been  im 
mediately  repulsed  by  this  regiment  countercharging 
as  soon  as  the  enemy  appeared  in  force  on  the  hill 
This  manoeuvre  checked  every  assault  at  the  foot  of 

the  hill.  Many  of  the  rebels  found  temporary  protection  there,  but  could  not  retreat. 
The  captain  of  Company  A  saw  quite  a  number  of  these  unfortunates.  He  pointed 
out  to  Private  Johndro  the  danger  these  fellows  were  putting  his  men  in,  and  then 
induced  this  brave  soldier  to  at  once  fix  his  bayonet  and  charge  all  alone  on  these 
skulkers.  A  heavy  fire  was  concentrated  upon  him  by  the  enemy's  sharpshooters, 
but  he  succeeded  in  driving  in  no  less  than  forty  rebels  as  his  prisoners. 

A  few  months  later  when  the  Medal  of  Honor  was  pinned  to  his  breast  for  this 
deed,  his  colonel  remarked:  "Johndro,  if  I  owned  this  Medal  of  Honor  and  had 
won  it  in  the  way  you  did,  I  should  think  more  of  it  than  I  do  of  the  eagles  that  I 
carry  on  my  shoulders." 


FRANKLIN  JOHNDRO, 

Private,  Co.  A,  118th  New  York  Vols. 
Born  at  Highgate  Falls,  Vt. 


—  443' 


TWO  RIDERS  ON  ONE  HORSE 


HENRY  H.  CROCKER, 

Captain,  Co.  F,  2d  Mas?.  Cavalry. 

Born  at  Colchester,  Conn..  Jan. 

20, 1840. 


A  \  7 HEN  Longstreet  and  Early  planned  to  annihilate 
'  »  Sheridan's  Army  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  the 
Federal  forces  were  at  the  little  village  of  Middletown, 
Va.,  and  around  the  immediate  neighborhood,  between 
the  village  and  Cedar  Creek.  The  Confederate  attack 
made  at  early  dawn,  October  19,  1864,  was  a  complete 
surprise,  and  came  so  unexpectedly  that  many  of 
the  Union  soldiers  had  no  time  to  put  on  their  clothes. 
About  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  General  Sheridan 
reached  the  scene  of  action,  and  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Creek  —  which  continued  throughout  the  day  —  was 
transformed  from  defeat,  rout  and  confusion  to  order 
and  victory. 

The  Second  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Caspar  Crowninshield 
commanding,  was  attached  to  Lowell's  Brigade  and  was  stationed  near  the  village 
of  Middletown.  Captain  Henry  H.  Crocker,  of  Company  F,  a  part  of  the  so-called 
California  Battalion  attached  to  this  regiment,  refers  to  the  battle  as  follows  : 

"We  were  aroused  early  in  the  morning  by  the  attack  of  the  enemy.  As  the 
enemy  came  upon  us  with  force  we  were  compelled  to  fall  back  slightly,  but  as  we 
did  so  we  inclined  toward  the  pike  at  our  right,  thus  keeping  our  line  of  communi 
cation  open.  It  was  a  bitter  contest,  the  enemy  coming  at  us  in  several  distinct 
charges,  in  each  of  which  they  were  repulsed.  Colonel  Lowell,  our  brigade  com 
mander,  who  was  killed  later  in  the  day,  rode  up  and  down  our  line  encouraging  the 
men  to  stand  together,  and  assuring  them  that  General  Sheridan  would  soon  be  on 
the  field  with  re-enforcements. 

"  About  this  time  a  body  of  the  enemy  was  seen  to  emerge  form  the  woods  and 
advance  upon  our  front.  My  mind  was  immediately  set  upon  checking  those  fel 
lows,  so  I  rode  up  to  Colonel  Crowninshield  and  asked  permission  to  charge  them. 
The  colonel  gave  his  consent,  but  cautioned  me  not  to  advance  too  far,  and  '  if  pos 
sible,'  he  added,  'come  back  with  a  few  prisoners.' 


Cedar  Creek,  Va. — Afterhis  victory  at  Fisher's  Hill,  Sheridan  proceeded  to  lay  waste  to  the  Shenandoah 
Valley.  Frequent  cavalry  combats  took  place  between  Sheridan's  and  Early's  forces  at  Cedar  Creek, 
but  no  decisive  movement  occurred  until  the  19th  of  October,  1864.  Soon  after  midnight  of  the  18th  Early 
surprised  General  Wright,  who  in  Sheridan's  absence  was  in  command  of  the  Union  Cavalry.  The  Federal 
.troops  were  completely  demoralized  and  were  falling  back  toward  Winchester.  Sheridan  had  returned  to 
the  latter  place  from  Washington  the  night  before,  and  upon  hearing  the  artillery  firing  he  started  in  the 
morning  on  a  dashing  twenty-mile  ride,  and  arrived  on  the  field  of  battle  in  time  to  check  the  retreat  and 
turn  it  into  one  of  the  most  brilliant  victories  of  the  war.  The  Federal  loss  was  5,995,  while  the  Confed 
erate  loss  was  4,200. 


4.44 


"I  hurried  back  to  my  company  and  told  the  boys,  very  much  to  their  satisfac 
tion,  of  the  work  before  us.  We  waited  until  we  knew  that  the  advancing  force 
could  give  us  but  one  volley  before  we  could  reach  them,  then  I  gave  the  command: 
'  Forward  !  Trot !  Gallop !  Charge  ! '  and  away 
we  went  with  sabres  flashing  in  the  sunlight. 
The  expected  volley  was  received,  saddles 
were  emptied  and  horses  went  down,  but  on 
we  went.  In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it 
we  were  among  them,  their  line  was  broken 
and  we  demanded  their  surrender.  Many  ran 
back  into  the  woods  where  we  could  plainly 
see  the  enemy  in  force,  but  they 
did  not  fire  upon  us  for  fear 
of  hitting  their  own  men. 
We  brought  back 
fourteen  prisoners 
on  the  run. 

"In  the  heat  of 
our  charge  I  had  felt 
a  dull,  throbbing  pain 
in  my   left  leg  and 
knew  that  I  had 
been  wounded, 
but  that  did 
not    pre 
vent    me 
from  stop- 
ping,   on 

our  return,  to  pick  up  Lieutenant  Mclntosh,  whose  horse  had  been  killed  and  who  was 
loosening  the  cinch  from  his  saddle.  When  he  had  completed  his  task  he  mounted 
my  horse  behind  me  and  thus  we  rode  back  to  our  lines  just  as  General  Sheridan 
came  dashing  along  the  road  on  his  famous  ride  from  Winchester." 

The  prisoners  captured  by  Captain  Croker  in  this  charge  were,  according  to  the 
statement  of  Colonel  Crowninshield,  the  first  rebels  captured  that  day,  and  therefore 
of  great  importance  to  General  Sheridan,  who  had  them  questioned  closely  as  to  the 
strength  and  formation  of  the  opposing  army.  They  also  gave  the  valuable  and  as 
suring  information  that  General  Longstreet  had  not  united  forces  with  General 
Early,  as  had  been  believed  by  the  leaders  of  the  Union  forces.  This  was  informa 
tion  of  such  importance  that  it  naturally  changed  arrangements  of  manoeuvres  and 
the  expected  defeat  of  the  morning  was  changed  into  a  grand  victory  by  evening. 


AS  GENERAL  SHERIDAN   CAME 
DASHING  ALONG." 


—  445  — 


"FORWARD!"  HIS  VOICE  RANG  OUT 


'"PHE  loss  of  some  guns  was  one  of  the  most  unfortunate  incidents  to  the  Union 
forces  during  the  early  part  of  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek.  The  circumstances 
of  the  occurrence  are  referred  to  by  General  Warren  J.  Keifer,  of  the  Tenth  Ohio 
Infantry,  who  commanded  the  Third  Division,  as  follows : 

"  A  number  of  guns  belonging  to  the  Sixth  Corps  were  posted  on  the  hills  .on  my 
left.  The  guns  under  the  command  of  Captains  McKnight  and  Adams  and  under  the 
direction  of  Colonel  Tompkins,  Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  were  admirably 
handled  and  rapidly  fired,  although  under  a  heavy  and  close  musketry  fire  of  the 
enemy.  After  over  100  artillery  horses  had  been  shot,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  cap 
turing  a  portion  of  the  guns,  having  approached  under  cover  of  the  smoke  and  fog 
from  the  left,  which  was  unprotected.  A  charge  was  ordered  and  the  guns  were 
retaken,  three  of  which  were  drawn  off  by  hand;  others  were  left  in  consequence  of 
being  disabled,  but  were  subsequently  recaptured.  Great  gallantry  was  displayed 
in  this  charge  by  officers  and  men.  The  rebels  were  fought  hand-to-hand  and  driven 
from  the  guns." 

The  saving  of  the  guns  was  the  proud  achievement  of  Colonel  W.  W.  Henry,  of 
the  Tenth  Vermont  Infantry.  He  undertook  the  task  when  no  one  else  would,  and 
at  a  time  when  courage  and  heroism  were  most  needed. 

When  Captain  McKnight,  pressed  by  the  enemy,  was  forced  to  abandon  his  guns, 
great  confusion  followed  within  the  Union  lines  and  the  entire  brigade  fell  back 
some  300  yards.  General  Ricketts,  the  division  commander,  succeeded  in  stopping 
a  further  retreat,  re-established  the  lines  and  ordered  the  capture  of  the  abandoned 
guns.  But  in  spite  of  the  order  not  a  regiment  stirred.  Vexed  and  annoyed,  Gen 
eral  Ricketts  exclaimed  :  "  Is  there  not  some  officer  of  the  First  Brigade  who  will 
lead  the  charge  ? " 

Instead  of  an  answer  Colonel  Henry  stepped  in  front  of  his  regiment. 

"  Forward  ! "  his  voice  rang  out. 

And  at  the  head  of  the  color-guard  he  marched  his  men  against  the  rebels.  A 
wild  rush  for  the  guns  was  made,  and  while  some  of  the  Vermonters  engaged  the 
Confederates  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight  others  busied  themselves  about  the  guns  and 
hauled  them  off.  The  arrival  of  the  balance  of  the  brigade  prevented  the  rebels 
from  pursuing  the  daring  colonel  and  his  brave  regiment,  and  Captain  McKnight 's 
captured  guns  were  brought  back  unmolested  to  General  Ricketts. 


" 


HALT  I  !  WANT  YOUR  FLAG!" 


HARRY  J.  PARKS, 

Private,  Troop  A,  Ninth  New  York 

Cavalry. 

Highest  rank  attained:  Captain. 
Born  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  24, 1848, 


WHEN  General  Sheridan's  forces,  late  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  battle  of  Cedar   Creek,  made  their  last 
charge  and  completely  routed   the   enemy,  it  was  fol 
lowed  by  some  confusion  within  the  Union  ranks  them 
selves.    Many  companies  became  separated  from  then 
regiments,  regiments  from  their  divisions.     This  hap 
pened,  among  other  troops,  to  the  Ninth  New  York 
Cavalry,  which,  at  the  end  of  the  battle,  when  night 
fall  came,  was  completely  broken  up. 

Troop  A  of  that  regiment  had  charged  the  enemy 
through  Stiasburg,  and  while  following  the  fleeing 
Confederates  to  Fisher's  Hill  had  been  separated  from 
the  main  body,  and,  dissolved  into  small  squads,  was 
gathering  prisoners,  capturing  wagons,  ammunition,  etc.  One  member  of  that  troop, 
Private  Harry  J.  Parks,  in  his  ardor  to  head  off  the  Confederate  supply  train,  had 
galloped  far  in  advance  of  his  comrades  and  was,  before  he  realized  it  himself,  in  the 
very  midst  of  a  large  body  of  rebel  soldiers.  However,  darkness  shielded  him  from 
being  recognized,  and  the  plucky  private's  own  story  shows  how  he  preserved  his 
presence  of  mind  and  extricated  himself  from  the  dangerous  situation  in  a  manner 
which  reflects  great  credit  upon  him.  He  says  : 

"  I  pushed  on  rapidly  and  presently  came  upon  a  Confederate  who  was  carrying 
a  stand  of  colors  and  an  overcoat  on  his  arm. 

" '  Halt ! '  I  exclaimed,  '  I  want  your  flag ! ' 

"The  rebel  made  a  quick  jump  behind  my  horse,  drew  his  revolver  and  made  a 
dash  for  the  river. 

"  I  wheeled  my  horse,  pulled  my  own  gun  and  fired  at  him.  I  must  have  scared 
him  badly,  for  he  threw  up  his  hands  in  despair  and  shouted : 

" '  I  surrender  !     Don't  shoot  again  ! ' 

"  And  now  prisoner  and  flag  were  mine.  I  marched  the  Johnny  at  the  side  of 
my  horse  till  some  time  later,  when  I  met  one  of  our  men,  to  whom  I  turned  over  my 
prisoner.  I  advanced  still  farther,  and  at  the  foot  of  Fisher's  Hill  encountered  two 
teamsters  in  charge  of  three  wagons.  I  stopped  and  ordered  them  to  'Turn  around, 
quick !  Drive  the  other  way !  Follow  me ! ' 

"  In  the  darkness  they  mistook  me  for  one  of  their  own  men  and  obeyed  my 
directions  without  hesitation.  I  led  them  to  our  own  lines  and  within  safe  distance 
disarmed  them  and  brought  them  in  as  prisoners.  The  wagons  contained  loads  of 
choice  eatables,  cigars  and  tobacco,  and  for  several  days  following  our  boys  lived 
high  and  in  luxury." 


—  447  — 


FREDERICK  A.  LYON, 

Corporal.   Co.   A.  1st  Vt. 

Cavalry. 

Born    at    Willianislnirg 
Mass..  June  f>,  lM:i. 


WHILE  it  may  be  true  that,  as  Corporal  Frederick 
Lyon,  of    Company  A,  First  Vermont  Cavalry, 
states,  the  "luck"  or  "opportunity"  of  distinguishing 
oneself  in  the   cavalry,  in  a  measure,  depends   on  the 
mount,  the  corporal's  own  achievement — as  brilliant  as 
any  during  the  war  —  cannot  be  cited  in  proof  of  the  asser 
tion.     Presence   of'  mind,  quick   decision  and  boldness  rather 
than  the  mount  were  the  elements  of  this  cavalryman's  "  luck," 
which  is  shown  by  Corporal  Lyon's  own  story  : 

"It  was  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864.  On 
account  of  being  surprised  the  left  of  our  line  fell  back  during 
the  day  nearly  four  miles.  About  four  or  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  General 
Merritt's  Division  of  cavalry  charged  that  branch  of  the  rebel  force  on  the  'Dirt 
Road '  which  ran  parallel  to  the  Pike  nearly  four  miles  distant,  and  we  saw  nothing 
more  of  them  during  the  engagement.  It  was  nearly  night  when  General  Custer's 
Division  was  ordered  forward.  Upon  reaching  Cedar  Creek  we  found  that  the  enemy 
had  all  crossed  the  stream.  Sergeant  Haskell,  of  Company  H,  of  my  regiment,  and 
myself  were  the  first  to  cross  at  some  distance  above  the  bridge,  but  we  were  not  long 
without  company,  the  whole  command  coming  in  a  body.  The  ground  wras  level  for 
some  distance  after  leaving  the  creek  and  many  prisoners  were  taken  and  sent  to 
the  rear  under  their  own  escort.  At  the  top  of  a  sharp  hill  we  halted  for  a  moment 
and  made  some  pretense  of  forming  a  line.  This  delay,  however,  was  of  short  dura 
tion.  It  was  getting  so  dark  now  that  we  could  not  distinguish  our  own  men. 
Knowing  that  General  Merritt  had  routed  the  enemy's  entire  cavalry  force,  and  as 
we  had  no  infantry  on  that  side  of  Cedar  Creek,  it  was  obvious  that  every  dis 
mounted  man  we  met  belonged  to  General  Early's  command. 

"  We  had  only  charged  a  short  distance  around  the  curve  in  the  pike  when  we 
came  upon  the  whole  retreating  army,  infantry,  artillery,  ambulance,  baggage 
wagons,  etc.  The  charge  as  a  command  was  at  an  end.  It  was  every  one  for  him 
self,  and  the  longest  pale  knocked  off  the  largest  persimmons.  All  was  excitement. 
The  fun  for  us  at  least  was  unlimited.  I  never  saw  such  a  stampede.  Whole  com 
panies  surrendered  to  half  a  dozen  mounted  men.  Some  of  us  galloped  forward 
seeking  diversion  nearer  the  front.  The  only  way  was  to  call  your  horse  out  on 
one  side  of  the  pike,  ride  past  half  a  dozen  wagons,  or  pieces  of  artillery,  command 
the  leading  rider  to  halt,  shooting  down  a  horse  if  necessary  to  force  obedience,  and 
order  all  to  the  rear. 

"  I  was  getting  well  to  the  front  of  the  retreating  column.  Even  a  rebel  bugler  who 
had  been  near  me  continually  sounding  the  charge  was  ordered  to  the  rear.  It  was 


—  448  — 


dark  ;  I  began  to  feel  as  if  I  was  away  from  home,  among  a  strange  people.  Jump 
ing  my  horse  upon  a  bank  to  the  right,  I  rode  past  a'number  of  wagons,  and  halted 
an  ambulance  that  was  about  to  cross  the  bridge  at  Strasburg.  A  voice  from  out 
the  darkness  replied :  '  General  Ramseur  is  inside  and  he  ordered  us  to  '  move  on/ 
"Now  I  had  seen  considerable  of  generals,  but  to  order  one  to  'halt,'  and  a  major- 
general  at  that,  after  he  had  given  the  order  to  '  move  on/  was  considerably  out  of 
my  line.  It  was  reversing  things.  I  fortunately  maintained  my  presence  of  mind 
and  a  second  time  requested  their  delay,  informing  them  that  I  was  a  member  in 
good  standing  of  the  Federal  Army.  'What' — from  the  ambulance — 'are  you  a 


'GENERAL  RAMSEUR   IS  INSIDE 


Yank?'    I 
replied  that  I 
belonged    to    the 
First  Cavalry,  and  my 
questioner,   a  major   on 
General  Ramseur's  staff,  ap 
preciated  the    situation    at 
once. 

"The  conference  was  brief  and  ended  in  the  ambulance  turning  around  and  start 
ing  back  toward  Cedar  Creek  and  Winchester.  On  the  return  I  met  General  William 
Wells,  commanding  our  brigade,  who  advised  me  to  take  my  prisoners  to  General 
Custer's  headqurters.  The  ambulance  contained  the  general,  a  major,  driver  and  a 
battle-flag.  Generals  Custer  and  Ramseur  knew  each  other  well,  having  been  class 
mates  at  West  Point." 

Within  a  week  after  this  incident,  Corporal  Lyon  received  orders  to  report  to 
Washington,  and  was  there  presented  with  a  Medal  of  Honor  by  President  Lincoln 
in  presence  of  his  cabinet. 


—  449  — 


STORIES  OF  THE  FLAG  AT 
CEDAR  CREEK 


T 


JOHN   WALSH, 

Corporal,  Co.  D,  5th  New 

York  Cavalry. 

Born   in  Co.  Tipperary. 

Ireland,  Dec.  4, 1841. 


ERI  D.  WOODBURY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  E,  1st  Vt.  C;iv. 

Born  at   Francotown,  N.  H., 

May  30, 1839. 


following  tell  of  interesting  episodes 
centering  around  the  colors,  Federal 
and   Confederate,  at  the    long-drawn-out 
and  bloody  battle  of  Cedar  Creek. 

Early  in  the  engagement  the  standard 
of  the  Fifteenth  New  Jersey  Infantry  had 
been  captured  by  the  enemy.  The  loss 
became  quickly  known  among  the  Union 
troops  and  several  unsuccessful  attempts 
to  recapture  the  flag  were  made.  Corporal  John  Walsh,  of  Company  D,  Fifth  New 
York  Cavalry,  during  one  of  the  subsequent  fierce  charges,  had  the  good  fortune  to 
succeed  where  so  many  others  had  failed.  During  the  heat  of  a  hand-to-hand  strug 
gle  he  noticed  a  Confederate  color-bearer  carrying  a  flag  which  he  at  once  recognized 
as  the  one  taken  from  the  New  Jersey  boys.  With  a  sudden  rush  he  made  for  the 
rebel  guard,  overpowered  him  and  wrenched  the  trophy  from  him.  All  of  this  was 
done  on  the  spur  of  the  moment  and  so  quickly  that  the  Confederate  color-guard 
and  his  comrades  hardly  realized  what  had  happened  until  it  was  all  over  and  the 
daring  corporal  with  his  precious  prize  was  back  within  the  Union  lines. 

It  was  an  impressive  scene  when,  after  the  battle,  the  New  Jersey  regiment  was 
called  out  on  parade,  and  in  presence  of  General  Sherman  received  back  its  colors 
at  the  hands  of  Corporal  Walsh. 

The  last  decisive  charge  was  made  in  the  afternoon  between  three  and  four 
o'clock.  It  was  by  far  the  bloodiest  of  the  entire  battle  and 
put  the  individual  bravery  of  the  Union  soldier  to  its  highest 
test.  The  conduct  of  Private  Martin  Wambsgan,  of  Com 
pany  D,  Ninetieth  New  York  Infantry,  furnishes  a  good 
illustration.  While  on  the  advance  the  color-bearer  of  his 
regiment  was  killed,  shot  through  the  head.  He  fell  forward 
on  his  face  and  landed  squarely  on  the  flag,  which  was  rid 
dled  with  bullet  holes,  while  the  staff  had  been  shot  in  two. 

When  this  occurred  Private  Wambsgan  was  only  a  few 
feet  away  from  the  unfortunate  flag-bearer.  With  one  leap 
he  was  at  his  side,  pulled  the  colors  from  under  him,  and, 
yelling  as  loudly  as  he  possibly  could,  waved  the  flag  over  his 
head.  Then  he  ran  to  the  front  of  his  regiment,  where  he 
took  post  during  the  remainder  of  the  fight,  holding  the  colors  aloft,  the  piece  of 
pole  and  his  arm  serving  as  a  flag-staff.  At  the  time  the  color- bearer  was  killed 


MARTIN    WAMBSGAN, 

Private,  Co.  D.  90th  N.  Y.  Inf. 

Born  in  Bavaria,  Germany, 

August  9, 1839. 


—  450  — 

and  the  colors  went  down  the  regiment  showed  signs  of  wavering,  but  Private 
Wambsgan's  quick  action  renewed  the  energy  and  courage  of  the  men  and  contrib 
uted  materially  to  the  success  of  the  charge. 

During  the  same  charge,  when  the  enemy  were  already  in  full  retreat,  Sergeant 
Eri  D.  Woodbury,  of  Company  E,  First  Vermont  Cavalry,  encountered  four  Confed 
erate  infantrymen  retreating  toward  a  small  knoll.  He  drew- his  sabre  and  ordered 
them  to  surrender.  The  rebels  hesitated,  but  did  not  raise  their  rifles.  The  actions 
of  one  made  Woodbury  suspicious,  and  scanning  him  more  closely  he  perceived  that 
he  was  trailing  behind  him  a  flag  rolled  on  his  staff. 

"Give  up  that  flag ! "  Woodbury  demanded. 

Naturally,  the  Confederate  objected,  but  the  determination  of  the  Union  cavalry 
man  soon  convinced  him  that  resistance  would  be  folly  and  reluctantly  he  handed 
over  his  colors.  The  brave  sergeant  then  rode  proudly  back  to  his  regiment,  where 
he  handed  over  his  prisoners  and  captured  colors  and  received  the  commendation  of 
his  superior  officers. 


CAPTURE  OF  GENERAL  MARMADUKE 


T 


HE  capture  of  a  general  officer  in  battle  is  a  note 
worthy  event,  but  when  the  officer  is  one  of  promi 
nence  the  act  becomes  of  great  interest,  and  especially 
when  the  capture  is  made  single-handed  by  a  private 
soldier;  thus    the    capture   of    Confederate    General 
Marmaduke   by   Private    James    Dunlavy,   Company 
D,  Third  Iowa  Cavalry,  necessarily  takes  a  high  place  in 
the  annals  of  history. 

Amid  the  heavy  roar  of  cannon,  on  the  open  plains  of 
Kansas,  the  two  contending  forces  met  to  do  battle  for 
supremacy  at  Little  Osage  Crossing  on  the  morning  of  the 
25th  of  October,  1864.  The  Confederate  artillery  was  playing 
on  the  Federal  forces  with  fearful  effect,  but  notwithstanding 

this  incessant  and  terrific  fire  the  Federal  infantry  never  wavered.      The  safety  of 
the  Federals  lay  in  a  charge  by  which  the  enemy's  guns  could  be  captured.     The 


JAMES  DUNLAVY. 

Private,  Co  1),  Third  Iowa  Cav 

Born  in  Decatur  County.  Ind. 
Pel).  4,  1844. 


Early  in  the  spring  of  1864  it  became  known  to  General  Rosecrans,  commanding  the  department  of 
Missouri,  that  the  Confederate  General  Price  intended  a  great  invasion  of  Missouri,  which  is  historically 
known  as  Price's  Missouri  Expedition  (Aug.  29-Dec.  2,  1864),  and  included  skirmishes,  engagements  and 
battles  in  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Arkansas.  At  Little  Osage  Crossing,  Kansas,  on  the  25th  of  October,  the 
Federals  under  General  Pleasanton  routed  the  Confederates,  capturing  1,000  prisoners,  military  arms, 
ammunition,  and  Generals  Marmaduke  and  Cabell. 


-451  — 


movement  was  begun  slowly  at  first,  but  increased  in  velocity  until  it  swept  on 
resistless  as  an  avalanche.  The  crash  of  musketry,  the  scream  of  shell,  the  buzzing 
of  canister  and  ball  enthused  the  dashing  cavalry.  The  charge  was  successful,  the 
rebels  being  routed.  At  this  juncture  Private  James  Dunlavy  was  severely  wounded, 
his  arm  being  shattered  by  a  piece  of  shell,  which  also  struck  his  horse,  making  him 
wheel  suddenly  to  the  rear.  Undaunted,  the  plucky  rider  headed  him  in  the  direc 
tion  of  a  brigade  which  he  thought  was  his  own,  but  which  proved  to  be  the  enemy. 

He  noticed  a  Confederate  officer  riding   among  the 
excited  soldiers  and  exhorting  them  to  make  a 
stand.     Dunlavy   raised  his  carbine,  aimed  at 
him  and  fired.     The  shot  missed  its  mark,  but 
had  served  to  attract  the  officer's  attention 
to  the  doughty  soldier,  and  dashing  up  to 
him  he  asked  in  an  angry  tone  : 
"What  do  you  mean,  shooting 
at  your  own  officer  ?     Give 
me  that  revolver." 

"Surrender,  or 
I'll  fire  ! " 

To   say  that  the 
Confederate  officer 
was  paralyzed  with 
surprise  at  finding  him 
self  at  the   mercy  of  a 
Union    soldier   is    ex 
pressing  it  mildly. 
But  he  offered  no 
resistance    and 
handed    over   his 
revolver.  Just  then 
a  comrade  ran  up  to 
Dunlavy.    "  My  horse  has  been  shot.    Give  me  that  of  your  prisoner,"  he  said. 

Dunlavy  made  the  officer  dismount  and  accommodated  his  comrade.  Then  the 
two  started  for  the  rear,  Dunlavy  on  horseback,  the  prisoner  trotting  along  at 
double-quick. 

The  latter  was  far  from  relishing  the  hurried  march  and  soon  asked  for  a 
slower  tempo.  "I  am  very  tired  and  worn  out.  Have  been  up  all  night,"  he 

said. 

Good   naturedly   the   cavalryman   slowed   down.     The    Confederate   made   still 

another  request. 

"Can't  you  get  me  a  horse  ?     I'd  like  to  ride." 


"HE  ASKED  FOR  A  SLOWER   TEMPO." 


—  452  — 

But  Dunlavy  was  not  inclined  to  make  further  concessions.  Why  should  I  give 
him  a  horse  ?  he  thought.  And  his  reply  to  the  question  was  a  curt  "  No." 

Again  the  silence  was  broken  by  the  prisoner. 

"  Will  you  take  me  to  General  Pleasanton  ? "  he  said.  "  I  am  personally  acquaint 
ed  with  him."  Becoming  more  confidential,  he  added  :  "  Young  man,  I'll  tell  you 
who  I  am." 

He  had  not  quite  finished  the  sentence  when  Colonel  C.  W.  Blair,  of  General 
Curtis'  staff,  rode  up  and  approached  the  prisoner. 

"  I  am  General  Marmaduke,"  the  officer  said,  addressing  the  new-comer. 

It  was  now  Private  Dunlavy 's  turn  to  be  surprised.  He  apologized  to  his  distin 
guished  prisoner  and  with  all  the  politeness  at  his  .disposal  turned  him  over  to 
Colonel  Blair,  who  procured  a  horse  for  General  Marmaduke  and  brought  both 
prisoner  and  captor  before  General  Curtis,  who  complimented  Dunlavy  and  ordered 
him  to  the  hospital. 


SCENES  FROM  HATCHER'S  RUN 


SOME  of  the  most  thrilling  and  inspiring  incidents  oc 
curred  at  the  battle  of  Hatcher's  Run,  Va.,  October 
27,  1864.     It  was  here  that  Private  Alorizo  Smith,  of 
Company  C,  Seventh  Michigan  Infantry,  performed  an 
act  of  extraordinary  daring. 

His  regiment,  in  position  on  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
had  not  yet  taken  an  active  part  in  the  great  fight. 
Presently  Private  Smith's  attention  was  drawn  to  a 
body  of  soldiers  a  short  distance  from  him  in  the  woods. 
Not  knowing  whether  they  were  friend  or  foe  he  de 
cided  to  investigate  for  himself  and  started  out  to  ascer 
tain  their  identity.  When  about  thirty  or  forty  rods  from  his  own  regimental  line  he 
satisfied  himself  that  the  soldiers  were  "Johnnies."  They  were  approaching  him  so 


ALONZO  SMITH, 

Private,  Co.  C,  7th  Michigan  Infantry, 
Born  at  Hartland,  N.  Y.,  August  9, 1842. 


Hatcher's  Run,  Va.  — The  siege  of  Petersburg  was  in  progress  nearly  four  months,  when,  on  the  27th 
of  October,  1864,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  began  a  movement  to  extend  its  lines  to  Hatcher's  Run,  Va., 
and  to  still  further  destroy  the  Weldon  Railroad.  The  Second  Army  Corps  and  the  Second  Division  of  the 
Fifth  Corps,  with  cavalry  in  advance  and  on  the  left  flank,  forced  a  passage  at  Hatcher's  Run  and  moved  along 
the  railroad  until  the  force  of  cavalry  and  the  Second  Corps  had  reached  the  Boydton  Plank  Road  where  it 
crosses  the  Run.  At  this  point  a  bloody  combat  ensued  between  Hancock's  and  Warren's  Corps  and  the 
Confederate  forces,  resulting  in  driving  the  enemy  back  into  their  works,  after  which  the  Union  forces 
withdrew  to  their  fortified  lines.  The  Federal  losses  were  about  1,200  in  killed  and  wounded  ;  the  Confed 
erate  losses  about  1,700. 


—  453  — 


CHARLES  A.  ORR, 

Private.  Co.  G,  LSTth  X.  Y.  Infantry. 
Born  at  Holland, N.  Y.,  June  28, 1848. 


fast  that  he  could  not  attempt  to  return  to  his  regiment 
without  risking  detection.  He  therefore  stepped  behind  a 
large  elm  tree,  and  with  his  gun  loaded  and  bayonet  fixed 
awaited  their  arrival.  When  they  had  come  up  to  within 
a  distance  of  about  twenty  feet  from  him  Smith  stepped 
from  his  place  of  hiding,  faced  the  rebel  squad  and  boldly 
demanded  their  surrender.  The  Confederates  were  com 
pletely  taken  by  surprise  by  the  sudden  and  wholly  unex 
pected  appearance  of  a  Union  soldier,  but,  nevertheless, 
showed  little  inclination  to  comply  with  the  order.  As 
Smith  with  increased  determination  repeated  his  order, 
an  officer,  the  leader  of  the  squad,  inquired  whether 
there  were  any  Federal  troops  in  the  vicinity  and  whether 
he  was  able  to  enforce  his  demand  for  surrender. 

Pointing  to  the  direction  of  his  regiment,  Smith  replied  :  "  There  is  a  whole 
division  of  Union  troops."  At  the  same  time  he  called  to  his  comrades  nearest  to  him 
to  come  to  his  assistance.  The  rebels  now  realized  that  they  had  imprudently 
strayed  too  close  to  the  Union  lines,  and  surrendered.  Smith  marched  his  prisoners 
out  of  the  woods  to  his  regiment,  on  the  way  relieving  the  re'bel  color-bearer  of  the 
Confederate  flag.  "  I  think,"  he  observed  facetiously,  "  I'll  be  the  color-bearer  for  a 
while." 

His  captain,  George  W.  LaPoint,  received  him  as  he  was  marching  his  prisoners 
into  camp,  with  a  broad  smile.     "What  have  you  been  doing,  Lon?  "  he  asked. 
"Oh,"  Smith  answered,  "capturing  a  few  prisoners  and  a  flag." 

The  regiment  remained  in  position,  which  was  far  in  ad 
vance  of  the  brigade  to  which  it  belonged,  all  day.  In  the 
evening  the  brigade  was  withdrawn  and  an  orderly  was  sent 
out  to  notify  Captain  LaPoint  to  follow  the  brigade. 

The  orderly  lost  his  way  and  failed  to  find  the  regiment, 
which  subsequently  was  cut  off  from  the  main  body  by  the 
advancing  Confederates.  Captain  LaPoint  and  his  brave  men, 
however,  maintained  their  perilous  position  all  night,  and 
starting  out  on  their  retreat  early  in  the  morning  had  to 
fight  every  inch  of  the  ground  on  their  way.  Their  retreat 
consumed  over  forty-eight  hours,  and  had  it  not  been  for  an 
old  negro  who  piloted  them  through  along  a  circuitous  route, 
they  would  never  have  reached  their  destination.  As  it  was 
the  regiment  had  many  a'  narrow  escape  from  annihilation 

and  more  than  once  its  capture  seemed  almost  inevitable.  At  one  time,  when  the 
situation  looked  almost  hopeless  and  Confederates  were  crowding  about  the  regiment 
from  all  sides,  the  men  resolved  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible,  and  above  all 


ALONZO  WOODRUFF, 

Sergeant,  Co.  1, 1st  TJ.  S.  8.  S. 

Born  at  Farmington,  Mich., 

March  21, 1839. 


—  45-1  — 

save  the  colors  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Color-Sergeant  James 
Donaldson  took  the  State  flag  from  the  staff  and  wrapped  it  around  his  body  under 
his  clothing,  while  the  national  flag  was  cut  into  pieces  and  a  star  given  to  each 
man,  the  remaining  pieces  being  distributed  likewise.  Thus  the  enemy  could  have 
only  captured  the  colors  after  the  death  of  the  whole  command  and  the  search  of 
the  body  of  every  soldier. 

The  rebels  were  not  equal  to  such  heroic  determination  and  in  the  final  charge, 
although  in  overwhelming  numbers,  were  repulsed  and  the  brave  Seventh  Michigan 
regained  the  Federal  lines.  With  Captain  LaPoint  on  his  retreat  was  a  detachment 
of  the  First  Minnesota  Infantry  under  command  of  Captain  J.  C.  Farwell. 

Another  incident  of  this  battle  centers  about  a  hand-to-hand  fight  between  Ser 
geant  Alonzo  Woodruff  and  Corporal  John  M.  Howard,  of  Company  I,  First  United 
States  Sharpshooters,  and  a  body  of  rebels. 

General  B.  R.  Pierce,  who  led  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Second  Army 
Corps,  gives  the  following  version  of  the  occurrence,  of  which  he  was  an  eye 
witness  :  "I  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  bravery  displayed  by  Sergeant  Alonzo 
Woodruff  and  Corporal  John  M.  Howard.  They  were  posted  on  the  extreme  left  of 
the  line  as  the  enemy  passed  our  left  flank. 

"After  discharging  their  rifles  and  being  unable  to  reload,  Corporal  Howard  ran 
and  caught  one  of  the  enemy  who  seemed  to  be  leading  that  part  of  the  line.  When  he 
was  overpowered  and  had  received  a  severe  wound  through  both  legs,  Sergeant  Wood 
ruff  went  to  his  assistance.  Clubbing  his  rifle,  he  had  a  desperate  hand-to-hand 
struggle,  but  finally  succeeded  in  freeing  Corporal  Howard  and  both  made  their 
escape." 

A  few  minutes  later  Woodruff  noticed  a  rebel  marching  a  private  of  his  company, 
N.  J.  Standard,  who  was  wounded,  away  as  a  prisoner. 

''What?"  the  gritty  sergeant  exclaimed,  "The  gall  of  those  rebels  !" 

And  he  jumped  right  among  the  rebels,  rushed  after  his  comrade  and  not  only 
released  Standard,  but  even  turned  the  tables  on  his  captor,  making  him  a  prisoner 
instead.  However,  the  brave  sergeant  did  not  escape  injury,  and  during  the  last 
encounter  was  severely  wounded  himself  and  forced  to  seek  medical  assistance  as 
soon  as  he  reached  his  lines. 

Mention  also  must  be  made  of  the  deeds  of  Lieutenant  Shannon  and  Private 
Charles  A.  Orr  and  John  Williams,  of  Company  G,  One  hundred  and  Eighty-seventh 
New  York  Infantry,  who,  when  during  this  battle  volunteers  were  asked  for  to 
rescue  wounded  men  from  between  the  lines,  carried  out  their  mission  at  the  risk  of 
their  own  lives.  Originally  thirty  men  had  responded  to  the  call  for  volunteers,  but 
when  it  came  to  the  execution  of  the  task  and  the  rebel  fire  was  concentrated  upon 
them  twenty-seven  abandoned  the  work,  leaving  only  Orr  and  his  two  companions 
to  bring  help  and  aid  to  the  wounded  soldiers. 

They  rescued  a  number  of  men  and  were  universally  praised  for  their  heroic  efforts. 


—  455  — 


A  THRILLING  RIDE 


EDWIN  GOODRICH, 

1st  Lieutenant,  Co.  D,  9th  N.  Y.  Cav. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Brevet-Major. 
Born  In  New  York  City  March  22, 1843. 


TN  November,  '1864,  on  the  field  where  the  famous 
1  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  was  fought  the  preceding 
month,  occurred  a  most  remarkable  race  for  life  and 
liberty,  one  that  speaks  volumes  for  the  hero  and  the 
endurance  of  the  man  he  rescued  in  this  wild  chase.  A 
squadron  of  the  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry,  in  command 
of  Lieutenant  Edwin  Goodrich,  was  ordered  to  proceed 
up  the  Shenandoah  Valley  on  a  reconnoissance  to  ascer 
tain  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy.  Soon  after  receiv 
ing  his  orders  Lieutenant  Goodrich  had  all  in  readiness, 
his  eighty  men  comprising  the  squadron  eagerly  await 
ing  the  command  to  inarch.  Diligent  search  failed  to 
reveal  any  hostile  forces  until  they  had  reached  a  place 

not  far  from  Strasburg,  Va.,  where  a  large  force  was  suddenly  encountered.  As  soon  as 
Lieutenant  Gooderich  discovered  the  enemy's  pickets  he  dispatched  Sergeant  Joseph 
N.  Foster  with  a  few  men  to  drive  them  in,  he  and  the  remainder  of  his  squadron  follow 
ing  up  in  their  support.  The  enemy  observed  this  move  and  immediately  sent  a  force 
of  2,000  cavalry  to  the  support  of  the  pickets. 

Goodrich  had  ordered  the  charge  to  learn  the  strength  of  the  rebels,  and,  having 
accomplished  this,  he  sounded  the  retreat  just  in  time  to  get  a  good  start  on  the 
approaching  enemy.  Foster,  who  was  among  the  last  to  fall  back,  felt  his  horse  stag 
ger  under  him,  from  the  effects  of  a  wound,  so  he  slipped  out  of  the  saddle  and  started 
on  the  retreat  afoot.  The  horse,  however,  gathered  himself  together  and  overtook 
the  fleeing  men,  whereupon  Foster  again  mounted  him.  The  wounded  animal 
carried  his  man  but  a  short  distance  at  a  rapid  gait;  then  he  began  to  lose  ground 
and  finally  brought  up  the  rear  of  the  column,  where,  exhausted,  he  fell,  pinning 
his  rider  to  the  ground. 

Goodrich  saw  Foster's  plight  and  wheeling  about  he  went  to  his  assistance  and 
hastily  pulled  him  from  under  the  wounded  horse,  leaving  a  boot  behind.  Having 
freed  Foster,  he  immediately  remounted  ;  none  too  soon,  however,  for  the  enemy 
were  upon  them,  and  spurring  his  charger  on  he  dashed  away  with  Foster  clinging  to 
the  horse's  tail.  Goodrich  reached  back,  took  Foster  by  the  hand  and  brought  him 
alongside  where  he  could  get  a  good  hold  on  his  collar,  and  in  this  way  almost 
carried  him  by  main  strength,  running  him  and  encouraging  him  to  keep  up. 
For  six  miles  he  carried  and  dragged  him,  with  the  enemy  in  close  pursuit,  firing, 
cursing  and  ordering  him  to  surrender.  The  2,000  pursuing  cavalrymen  and  their 
rain  of  bullets,  their  shouting  and  their  commands  to  surrender  could  not  induce 
Goodrich  to  loose  his  hold  on  his  comrade's  collar.  Awkward  as  the  additional 


FOR    SIX    MILES    HE    CARRIED    AND    DRAGGED    HIM.' 


—  457  — 

weight  was,  the  gallant  charger  fled  along  the  pike  so  swiftly  that  his  rider  felt 
secure  in  their  ultimate  safety.  But  this  gait  could  not  be  maintained,  and  shortly 
after  the  enemy  were  fast  closing  in.  At  last  one  of  Goodrich's  men  slowed  down  his 
horse  and  dropped  back  to  the  assistance  of  the  heroic  lieutenant. 

This  young  trooper  rode  alongside  of  Goodrich,  bringing  Foster,  who  by  this  time 
was  completely  exhausted,  between  the  two  horses,  and  while  still  in  full  flight  they 
managed  with  much  difficulty  to  swing  him  on  the  trooper's  horse. 

Twelve  miles  were  covered  by  these  brave  horsemen  before  the  rebels  gave  up 
their  chase,  and  so  completely  was  Foster  exhausted  that  when  Winchester  was 
reached  he  had  to  be  taken  to  the  hospital. 

During  this  exciting  retreat,  when  exhaustion  overcame  Foster,  he  had  begged 
Goodrich  to  leave  him  to  his  fate,  as  he  could  no  longer  keep  up.  But  Goodrich 
could  not  be  induced  to  loose  his  iron  grasp  on  him.  After  all  were  safely  within 
the  Union  lines  Goodrich  remarked  :  "  Had  the  pursuers  overtaken  us  while  I  was 
extricating  Foster,  there  would  have  been  little  danger  of  our  being  taken  prisoners, 
for  the  enemy  were  bunched  so  closely  together  in  the  narrow  pike,  and  were 
coming  on  with  such  impetus,  that  we  would  have  been  trampled  to  death." 


A  REBEL  CHARGE  THAT  FAILED 


THE  following  vivid  description  by  Sergeant  Henry  F. 
W.  Little,  of  Company  D,  Seventh  New  Hampshire 
Infantry,  shows  how  much  depends  on  the  personal  brav 
ery  of  the  individual  soldier  in  repulsing  a  charge  of  the 
enemy,  and  also  illustrates  the  futility  of  a  bayonet  charge 
against  a  body  of  men  well  entrenched  and  armed  with 
repeating  rifles. 

"  It  was  early  on  the  morning  of  October  7,  1864,"  the 
sergeant  says,  "  that  our  troops  on  the  north  side  of  the 
James  River,  Va.,  were  aroused.  We  were  quickly  ordered 
into  line  to  repel  an  attack.  We  found  the  cavalry  under 
General  Kautz  coming  toward  us  pell-mell,  hotly  pursued 
by  the  Confederates.  We  were  at  once  advanced,  the  lines 
formed  and  thus  we  waited  the  onslaught. 

"Our  line  was  without  breastworks  or  protection  of  any  kind  and  the  Confeder 
ates  pushed  up  to  within  a  few  rods  of  us.     Our  force  was  not  large  and  our  lines 


HENRY  F.  W.  LITTLE, 

Sergeant,  Company  D,  7th  New 

Hampshire  Infantry. 

Born  at  Manchester,  N.  H.,  June 

27, 1842. 


—  458  — 


extended  so  far  that  we  were  without  support,  and  a  wavering  brigade  or  even  the 
falling  back  of  a  single  regiment  on  that  line  would  probably  have  given  the  enemy  an 
opportunity  of  taking  everything  before  them  on  the  north  side  of  the  James  River. 

"  Much  depended  on  the  individual  bravery  and  the  courage  of  the  officers.  As 
the  rebels  came  rushing  on  I  advised  our  men  to  keep  cool  and  not  fall  back  an  inch, 
and  had  the  gratification  to  see  that  during  the  subsequent  events  our  boys  above 
all  others  distinguished  themselves  for  their  calmness  and  the  deadly  accuracy  of 
their  fire. 

"The  charge  was  desperately  and  handsomely  made  and  energetically  repulsed. 
Our  brigade,  which  seemed  to  have  been  the  objective  point  of  the  Confederate 
attack  and  had  borne  the  brunt  of  the  assault,  was  armed  with  Spencer  repeating  car 
bines,  seven-shooters,  and  delivered  so  destructive  a  fire  that  it  was  impossible  for  the 
enemy  to  withstand  its  effect.  The  Confederate  dead  in  our  front,  after  the  charge, 
lay  in  long  lines  only  a  few  feet  away,  showing  where  their  battalions  had  stood 
at  the  time  of  the  clash,  when  they  found  it  impossible  to  break  through  our  ranks. 

"Many  of  the  Confederates  found  it  as  much  impossible  to  retreat  as  it  was  to 
advance,  and  preferred  capture  to  almost  inevitable  death.  The  fight,  although  it 
lasted  but  a  half  hour,  was  extremely  fierce  and  ended  in  a  complete  defeat  of  the 
rebels." 

Sergeant  Little's  gallant  conduct  on  the  skirmish  line  was  such  that  it  com 
mended  itself  to  his  superior  officers  and,  later,  was  fittingly  recognized  by  the 
award  of  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


A    CLEVER   TACTICIAN'S   CLEVER 
ACHIEVEMENT 


0 


N  the  30th  day  of  November,  1864,  at  Honey  Hill,  S.  C., 
First   Lieutenant  Orson   W.  Bennett,   Company    A, 
One  hundred  and  second  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  received  an 
order  from  his  brother,  General  W.  T.  Bennett,  chief  of 
staff  to  General  Hatch,  in  the  following  words  : 
"  Lieutenant,  about  100  yards  in  advance  of  our  lines,  on  an 
elevation  near  the  road,  and  within  150  yards  of  the  enemy's 
guns,  there  are  three  pieces  of  artillery  which  have  been  aban 
doned.     You  are  ordered  to  bring  them  in.     Fix  bayonets  and 
impress  upon  your  men  that  they  must  not  pay  any  attention 
to  the  enemy,  but  bring  in  the  guns." 

Lieutenant  Bennett  at  once  selected  thirty  men  to  go  with 
him  to  carry  out  the  order,  leaving  the  remainder  of  his  com 
pany  on  the  skirmish  line.  Then  he  gave  the  order,  "Fix  bayonets!  Trail  arms! 
Forward,  double-quick — march !" 


ORSON  W.  BENNETT, 

First  Lieutenant.  Co.  A,  102d 

U.  S.  C.  T. 
Highest  rank  attained: 

Captain. 

Born  Nov.  17,  1841,  at  Union 
City,  Branch  Co.,  Mich. 


-459- 

The  little  squad  moved  forward  with  great  precision.  The  slight  elevation  of 
the  land  helped  considerable  in  preventing  the  enemy  from  seeing  the  advance 
until  the  men  were  directly  opposite  the  abandoned  guns,  partly  screened  by  a 
fringe  of  low  bushes.  The  guns  were  surrounded  by  dead  and  mangled  men  and 
horses,  who  had  fallen  in  their  defense.  Lieutenant  Bennett  urged  on  his  brave 
men  to  quick  and  concentrated  action.  Delay  meant  death.  The  men  fully  ap 
preciated  the  situation  and  obeyed  like  machines.  At  the  "rally"  they  sprang  for 
ward  and  seized  the  nearest  gun.  Lieutenant  Bennett  kept  a  watchful  eye  upon  the 
Confederates,  less  than  200  yards  distant.  When  he  saw  by  their  movements  that 
they  were  about  to  fire  their  own  guns  he  shouted  to  his  men,  "Down  !"  and  they 
all  dropped  to  the  ground.  A  second  later  a  shower  of  grape  and  canister  went 
whizzing  and  shrieking  over  their  heads.  Instantly  they  sprang  to  their  feet 
again,  seized  the  trailer  of  one  of  the  guns  and  dragged  it  safely  to  the  Union  lines. 
To  secure  the  second  was  a  more  dangerous  operation,  for  the  enemy  was  aware  of 
the  movement  and  prepared  to  give  Bennett's  detachment  a  warm  greeting. 

After  resting  his  men  a  few  moments  Bennett  again  ordered  an  advance.  Just 
before  the  Confederates  fired  he  commanded  his  men  to  drop,  which  they  did  as 
promptly  and  neatly  as  before.  Before  the  smoke  cleared  away  the  gallant  colored 
soldiers  were  dragging  the  gun  out  of  danger. 

Then  Lieutenant  Bennett  and  his  men  made  a  dash  for  the  third  gun,  repeating 
the  same  tactics  of  dropping  as  the  Confederates  fired,  and  succeeded  in  landing  it 
safely  within  the  Union  lines  amid  yells  of  disappointment  from  the  enemy  and 
cheers  of  enthusiastic  approval  from  the  Union  troops. 

In  performing  this  daring  deed,  only  one  of  Lieutenant  Bennett's  men  was 
wounded  and  none  killed,  and  the  achievement  was  the  more  brilliant  by  reason  of 
the  fact  that  a  previous  attack  to  save  the  guns  had  ended  in  a  failure  and  cost  a 
heavy  loss  to  the  command  which  made  the  attempt. 


—  460  — 


"WE  CAN  GO  WHEREVER  THE 
GENERAL  CAN!" 


M 


AJOR-GENERAL  DAVID   S.  STANLEY,   commanding    the 
Fourth  Army  Corps,  sent  by  General  Sherman  to 
guard   Nashville  and   Tennessee  against  an  unexpected 
move  of  General  Hood  with  a  large  Confederate  army, 
reached  Pulaski,  Term.,  November  1,  1864.    Then  followed 
DAVID  s  STANLEY,          a  series  of  manoeuvres  on  the  part  of  18,000  Union  soldiers 

Major-General  U.  S.  Volunteers.  .  i      i       •  iij»  i         •  p    -n 

Bom  in  cedar  valley,  wayne  against  an  overwhelming  rebel  iorce,  numbering  tully 

40,000.  The  clash  came  November  30th,  when  the  battle 
of  Franklin  was  fought. 

A  description  of  this  battle  is  given  in  the  general's  own  words,  as  follows  : 

"Early  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  General  Wilson  sent  word  to  me  that  the 
enemy  had  laid  a  pontoon  bridge  at  Huey's  Mills.  At  8  A.  M.  I  started  to  Spring 
Hill  with  the  First  and  Second  Divisions,  all  the  artillery  that  could  be  spared,  and  all 
the  trains  and  ambulances  to  follow;  at  the  same  time  areconnoissance  was  sent  up  the 
river  and  soon  sent  word  back  that  the  enemy  was  crossing  infantry  and  wagons  and 
moving  off  rapidly  to  the  north  and  parallel  to  the  turnpike.  It  being  apprehended 
that  the  enemy  might  make  a  flank  attack  upon  the  position  of  our  force  between 
Duck  River  and  Rutherford's  Creek,  the  First  Division  was  halted  and  took  up  posi 
tion  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  creek.  At  11:30  o'clock  the  head  of  the  Second 
Division  was  within  two  miles  of  Spring  Hill.  A  cavalry  soldier,  who  seemed  badly 
scared,  was  met  here  and  stated  that  a  scout  had  come  in  from  the  direction  of 
Raleigh  Hill  and  reported  that  Buford's  Division  of  rebel  cavalry  was  half  way  be 
tween  Raleigh  Hill  and  Spring  Hill  and  on  the  march  to  the  latter  place.  The  Second 
Division  was  pushed  on,  and,  attracted  by  the  firing  east  of  the  village,  double- 
quicked  into  the  place  and  deployed  the  leading  brigade  as  they  advanced,  drove  off 
a  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  which  was  driving  our  small  force  of  cavalry  and  in 
fantry,  and  would  very  soon  have  occupied  the  town. 

"Up  to  this  time  it  was  thought  that  we  had  only  cavalry  to  contend  with,  but  a 
general  officer  and  his  staff,  at  whom  we  sent  some  complimentary  shells,  were  seen 
reconnoitering  our  position  and  very  soon  afterward  General  Bradley  was  assailed  by 
a  force  which  the  men  said  fought  too  well  to  be  any  dismounted  cavalry. 

"  I  received  General  Schofield's  dispatch  about  the  same  time,  telling  me  that  the 
rebels  had  been  crossing  the  river,  and  leaving  no  doubt  but  that  we  now  confronted 
a  superior  force  of  rebel  infantry.  About  the  same  time  an  attack  was  made  upon 
a  small  wagon  train  by  rebel  cavalry  at  Reynolds'  Station,  three  miles  toward  Frank 
lin,  and  simultaneously  the  rebel  cavalry  appeared  west  of  us  and  threatened  the 
railroad  station  of  Spring  Hill.  Thus  we  were  threatened  and  attacked  from  every 
direction.  As  night  closed  we  could  see  the  enemy  rapidly  extending  his  line  and  by 


—  461  — 

eight  o'clock  it  was  evident  that  at  least  a  Corps  of  Hood's  Army  was  formed  in  line 
of  battle,  facing  the  turnpike,  and  at  a  near  distance  of  but  little  more  than  half  a 
mile  from  it.  It  was  determined  to  push  our  way  to  Franklin.  At  one  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  30th  the  train  commenced  to  pull  out.  The  number  of  wagons, 
including  artillery  and  ambulances,  was  about  800.  At  the  very  starting  point  they 
had  to  pass  singly  over  a  bridge,  and  it  was  exceedingly  doubtful  whether  the  train 
could  be  put  on  the  road  by  daylight.  Unless  this  could  be  done,  and  the  corps  put 
in  motion,  we  were  sure  of  being  attacked  by  daylight  and  compelled  to  fight  un 
der  every  disadvantage.  I  was  strongly  advised  to  burn  the  train  and  move  on  with 
the  troops  and  such  wagons  as  could  be  saved,  but  I  determined  to  make  an  effort 
to  save  the  train.  My  staff  officers  were  busily  engaged  hurrying  up  teamsters  and 
everything  promised  well  when  we  w  ere  again  thrown  into  despair  by  the  report 
that  the  train  had  been  attacked  north  of  Thompson's  Station  and  its  progress 
had  been  stopped  altogether.  It  was  now  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  General 
Kimball  was  directed  to  push  on  with  the  First  Division  and  clear  the  road.  Gen 
eral  Wood's  Division  had  covered  the  road  and  was  directed  to  move  on,  keeping  off 
the  road  and  on  the  right  flank  of  the  train,  and  General  Wagner's  Division,  al 
though  wearied  by  the  fighting  of  the  day  before,  was  detailed  to  bring  up  the  rear. 
Before  Kimball's  Division  could  reach  the  point  at  which  the  train  was  attacked 
Major  Steele,  of  my  staff,  had  gotten  up  a  squad  of  our  stragglers  and  driven  off  the 
rebels,  who  had  succeeded  in  burning  about  ten  wagons. 

"  The  trains  moved  on  again,  and  at  about  five  o'clock  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  see 
ing  the  last  wagon  pass  the  small  bridge.  The  entire  corps  was  on  the  road  before 
daylight.  The  rebel  cavalry  was  in  possession  of  all  the  hills  to  our  right,  and  made 
numerous  demonstrations  upon  our  flank,  but  were  easily  driven  off. 

"From  one  o'clock  until  four  in  the  afternoon  the  enemy's  entire  force  was  in  sight 
and  forming  for  attack ;  yet,  in  view  of  our  own  strong  positions  and  reasoning  from 
the  former  course  of  the  rebels  during  this  campaign,  nothing  appeared  so  improb 
able  as  that  they  would  assault.  I  felt  so  confident  in  this  belief  that  I  did  not  leave 
General  Schofield's  headquarters  until  the  firing  commenced.  About  four  o'clock 
the  enemy  advanced  with  his  whole  force,  at  least  two  corps,  making  a  bold  and 
persistent  assault.  When  Wagner's  Division  fell  back  from  the  heights  south  of 
Franklin,  Opdycke's  Brigade  was  placed  in  reserve  in  rear  and  Lane's  and  Conrad's 
Brigades  were  deployed  in  the  front  of  our  main  line.  Here  the  men,  as  our  men 
always  do,  threw  up  a  barricade  of  rails.  By  whose  mistake  I  cannot  tell,  these 
brigades  had  orders  not  to  retire  to  the  main  line  until  forced  to  do  so  by  the  fight 
ing  of  the  enemy.  The  consequence'  was  that  the  brigades  stood  their  ground  until 
the  charging  rebels  were  almost  crossing  bayonets  with  them,  but  the  line  then 
broke  and  men  and  officers  made  the  quickest  time  they  could  to  our  main  lines. 
The  old  soldiers  all  escaped,  but  many  of  the  conscripts,  being  afraid  to  run  under 
fire,  were  captured.  A  large  proportion  of  the  men  came  back  with  loaded  mus 
kets,  and  turning  at  the  breastworks  fired  a  volley  into  the  pressing  rebels,  not  ten 


—  462— 

steps  from  them.  The  part  of  the  Twenty-third  Corps  stationed  in  the  works  broke 
and  ran  to  the  rear  with  the  fugitives  from  Conrad's  Brigade.  To  add  to  this  dis 
order,  the  caissons  of  the  two  batteries  in  the  works  galloped  rapidly  to  the  rear  and 
the  enemy  appeared  on  the  breastworks  and  in  possession  of  the  two  batteries,  which 
they  commenced  to  turn  upon  us. 

"  It  was  at  this  moment  that  I  arrived  on  the  scene  of  disorder.  The  moment 
was  critical  beyond  any  I  have  known  in  any  battle.  Colonel  Opdycke's  Brigade  was 
lying  down  about  100  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  works.  I  rode  quickly  to  the  left  of 
the  brigade  and  called  to  them  to  charge  ;  at  the  same  time  I  saw  Colonel  Opdycke 
near  the  centre  of  his  line  urging  his  men  forward.  I  gave  the  Colonel  no  order,  as 
I  saw  him  engaged  in  doing  the  very  thing  to  save  us,  viz.,  to  get  possession  of  our 
line  again.  The  retreating  men  commenced  to  rally.  I  heard  old  soldiers  call  out : 
'Come  on,  men  ;  we  can  go  wherever  the  general  can  ! ' 

"Making  a  rush  our  men  immediately  retook  all  our  line,  excepting  a  small  por 
tion  just  in  front  of  a  brick  house  on  the  pike.  Here  a  rebel  force  held  out  and  for 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  poured  in  a  severe  fire  upon  our  men.  So  deadly 
was  the  fire  that  it  was  only  by  the  most  strenuous  exertions  of  the  officers  that  our 
men  could  be  kept  to  the  line.  Our  exertions,  however,  succeeded,  and  in  twenty 
minutes  our  front  was  comparatively  clear  of  rebels,  who  fell  back.  Just  after  the 
retaking  of  the  lines  by  our  troops,  as  I  was  passing  toward  the  left  to  General  Cox's 
position,  my  horse  was  killed,  and  no  sooner  had  I  regained  my  feet  than  I  received 
a  musket  ball  through  the  back  of  my  neck.  My  wound,  however,  did  not  prevent 
my  keeping  the  field,  and  General  Cox  kindly  furnished  me  a  remount.  One  hund 
red  wagon  loads  of  ammunition,  artillery  and  musket  cartridges  were  expended  in 
this  short  battle. 

"  In  the  evening  it  was  determined  to  withdraw  to  Nashville  and  the  troops  were 
directed  to  leave  the  line  at  midnight.  Some  villain  came  very  near  frustrating 
this  plan  by  firing  a  house  in  Franklin  ;  the  flames  soon  spread,  and  the  prospect 
was  that  a  large  fire  would  occur,  which,  lighting  up  objects,  would  make  it  impos 
sible  to  move  the  troops  without  being  seen.  My  own  and  General  Wood's  staff 
officers  found  an  old  fire  engine,  and  getting  it  at  work  soon  had  the  flames  subdued, 
the  darkness  now  being  intensified  by  the  smoke.  At  midnight  the  withdrawal  was 
made  successfully  and  the  march  to  Nashville  continued  without  interruption.  Our 
men  were  more  exhausted,  however,  than  I  have  ever  seen  them  on  any  occasion  ; 
many  of  them  were  overtaxed,  broke  down  on  the  march  and  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  and  altogether  we  were  glad  when  our  destination — Nashville — was 
finally  reached." 


—  463  — 


OVER  FIVE  BARRICADES 


DAVID  L.  COCKLEY. 

First  Lieutenant.  Co.  L,  10th 

Ohio  Cavalry. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Captain. 

Born  in  Lexington,  O.,  June 
8, 1843. 


ENERAL  WHEELER'S  position  at  Waynesboro,  Ga.,  at  the 
beginning  of  December,  1864,  was  chosen  with  the  ut 
most  caution  in  the  roughest  and  most  inaccessible  locality 
with  a  special  view  of  affording  protection  against  a  sabre 
charge.     General  Kilpatrick  was  ordered  to  pursue  Wheeler 
and  engage  him  wherever  he  would  meet  him.     In  com 
pliance  with  this  order  the  Federal  cavalry  leader  moved 
on  to  Waynesboro  Road,  and  on  December  4  engaged  Gen 
eral  Wheeler's  rebel  forces.    The  Confederates  had  dismounted 
and  wrere  behind  heavy  rail  barricades. 

The  Federal  troops  were  preparing  for  the  attack  and  were 
anxiously  waiting  for  the  charge  to  be  sounded.  The  com 
manding  officer  of  one  of  the  cavalry  regiments  had  just  been  wounded  when  First 
Lieutenant  David  L.  Cockley,  acting  aide-de-camp  to  General  S.  D.  Atkins,  brought 
the  instruction  to  make  the  charge.  Noting  the  hesitation  of  the  troops,  Lieutenant 
Cockley  asked  for  permission  to  lead  this  regiment.  The  request  was  at  first 
refused,  General  Atkins  preferring  to  have  the  young  lieutenant  at  his  side  so  as  to 
be  able  to  use  his  valuable  services.  Cockley  felt  chagrined.  Again,  and  still  more 
urgently,  he  made  the  request.  "  I  need  your  services,"  Colonel  Atkins  repeated  and 
again  refused.  For  a  third  time  Cockley  repeated  his  request  and  so  earnestly 
pleaded  to  be  allowred  to  participate  in  the  fight  that  the  colonel  could  no  longer  re 
sist  and  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  his  brave  aide-de-camp.  The  charge  was  sounded. 
The  whole  line  moved  forward  in  splendid  order  and  never  halted  for  one  moment 
until,  in  less  than  twenty  minutes,  five  lines  of  barricades  were  taken  and  the 
enemy  were  completely  routed  and  driven  back  into  the  town  of  Waynesboro. 
Here  a  countercharge  stopped,  for  a  short  time,  the  advance  of  the  Federals,  but 
soon  another  attack  was  made  and  the  rebels  were  driven  in  wild  confusion  through 
and  out  of  the  town.  A  most  notable  victory  had  been  gained  by  the  Federal  cavalry 
against  a  much  stronger  force. 

Lieutenant  Cockley  was  at  the  head  of  the  regiment.  When  during  the  height 
of  the  attack  and  after  having  passed  the  second  barricade  Captain  S.  E.  Norton, 
who  commanded  the  first  battalion,  fell,  mortally  wounded,  Cockley  took  his  place 
and  gallantly  led  the  men  to  victory.  No  more  than  five  of  his  brave  followers 
were  left  with  him  when  he  finally  stopped  his  dash.  His  conduct  earned  for  him 
the  Medal  of  Honor,  especially  since  only  two  weeks  prior  to  this  battle  he  had 
achieved  a  feat  in  a  battle  episode  which  attracted  the  attention  of  his  superior 
officers. 

The  Second  Brigade,  Third  Cavalry  Division,  to  which  the  Tenth  Ohio  Cavalry 
belonged,  had  left  Marietta  and  was  on  the  road  to  Bear  Creek  Station,  Ga.,  pursuing 


—  465  — 

Wheeler's  cavalrymen.  On  November  15th,  while  near  East  Point,  the  brigade  com 
mander,  Colonel  Atkins,  sent  Lieutenant  Cockley  ahead  to  select  a  locality  suitable 
for  camp  purposes.  This  had  been  done  by  Cockley,  who  was  returning  to  his  lines 
when  he  suddenly  found  the  road  blocked  by  four  rebels.  With  quick  determina 
tion  the  lieutenant  gave  the  command  to  charge  to  his  orderly,  his  only  companion, 
and  made  a  dash  for  the  Confederates,  who  were  so  completely  surprised  that  they 
threw  up  their  hands  in  token  of  surrender  when  ordered  to  do  so.  Cockley 
marched  them  to  headquarters  to  receive  the  expressions  of  appreciation  and  con 
gratulations  from  the  colonel. 


"I  WAS  MAD  AS  A  HORNET" 


MICHAEL  SOWERS, 

Private,  Company  L.  Fourth  Pennsyl 
vania  Cavalry. 
Born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Sept.  14, 1844. 


T  NCITED  by  the  loss  of  his  horse  Private  Michael  Sowers, 
*  of  Company  L,  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  fought 
at  Stony  Creek  Station,  Va.,  December  1, 1864,  with  such 
fury  and  rage  that  he  attracted  general  attention,  and, 
being  one  of  the  first  to  storm  the  enemy's  stronghold, 
became  the  hero  of  the  day. 

"  Tt  was  like  this,"  Private  Sowers  says  in  telling  of 
the  incident ;  "  my  regiment  and  the  Sixteenth  Penn 
sylvania  Cavalry  were  marched  down  the  public  road 
to  a  distance  of  about  500  yards  from  the  fort,  which 
was  built  of  mud  and  logs.  Then  we  separated,  the 
Sixteenth  going  to  the  right,  we  to  the  left,  to  make 
a  simultaneous  attack.  We  charged.  All  of  a  sudden  my  horse  dropped  forward 
on  his  knees  to  rise  no  more.  That  was  the  third  horse  killed  under  me  within  a 
short  time,  I  was  mad  as  a  hornet  and,  resolving  to  make  some  rebels  pay  for  this 
last  loss,  slipped  off  the  back  of  the  gallant  little  animal,  took  my  Spencer  and, 
running  ahead  of  the  encircling  cavalry,  made  for  the  fort.  Of  course,  I  had  no 
right  to  do  that;  but  I  was  enraged  and  had  but  one  object  in  view,  to  get  even  with 
those  infernal  Johnnies  who  were  killing  my  horses.  A  lot  of  grape  and  canister 
came  my  way,  but  not  close  enough  to  injure  me,  so  on  I  went  right  into  the  fort. 
I  do  not  claim  that  I  was  the  first  one  to  enter  upon  rebel  ground — I  was  too  ex 
cited  to  look  about  me.  I  do  know,  however,  that  I  was  one  of  the  first,  and  that  as 
soon  as  I  was  inside  of  the  fort  I  emptied  my  gun  into  the  rebels  with  telling  effect. 
The  Sixteenth  Pennsylvania  stormed  the  fort  from  the  other  side,  and  together  we 
made  ourselves  masters  of  the  rebel  stronghold." 


On  the  1st  of  December,  1864,  Grant  sent  General  Gregg's  cavalry  on  a  reconnoissance  to  discover 
whether  the  enemy  were  moving  troops  south.  Gregg  captured  Stony  Creek  Station,  Va.,  that  day, 
burning  3,000  sacks  of  corn,  600  bales  of  hay,  a  train  of  cars,  and  a  large  amount  of  ammunition,  and 
brought  off  190  prisoners,  while  his  own  loss  was  very  small. 


WHERE  OTHERS  SKULKED,  HE 
STOOD  HIS  GROUND 


SAMUEL  J.  CHURCHILL, 

Corporal,  Co.  G,  Second  Illinois 

L.  A. 

Born  in  Rutland  County,  Vermont, 
Nov.  1,1842. 


' '  LJ  E  stood  manfully  at  his  post,"    This  splendid  tribute 
*  *     is  quoted  from  the  records  relating  to  the  award  of 

the  Medal  of  Honor  to  Corporal  Samuel  J.  Churchill,  of 

Company  G,  Second  Illinois  Light  Artillery. 

He  won  it  December  15,  1864,  when  General  Thomas 

made  an  attack  upon  the  rebel  army  under  General  Hood, 

near  Nashville,  Tenn. 

The  battery  to  which  Churchill  belonged  was  in  position 

on  high  ground,  200  yards  from  and  directly  in  front  of  the 

rebel  battery.  Churchill  himself  commanded  a  twelve- 
pound  Napoleon  gun  served  by  eight  men.  The  Confederates  worked  their  pieces 
with  deadly  accuracy,  several  men  and  horses  being  killed  before  Churchill's  Battery 
succeeded  in  taking  the  desired  position— a  few  feet  to  the  right  of  a  large  brick 
house. 

The  firing  continued  and  seemed  to  increase  both  in  frequency  and  certainty  of 
aim.  But  now  the  Union  Batteries  opened  and  replied  as  effectively  as  that  of  the 
enemy. 

At  Churchill's  gun  a  cannoneer  at  the  command  of  "Load  !"  took  the  sponge- 
staff,  sponged  the  gun  and  waited  for  his  comrade  to  come  up  with  the  cartridge. 
Just  then  a  volley  from  the  rebel  battery  enshrouded  the  gun  and  the  waiting  can 
noneer  became  panic-stricken.  He  dropped  his  sponge-staff  and  ran  behind  the 
brick  house.  His  terror  spread  to  the  other  cannoneers  and  they  likewise  fled, 
leaving  the  corporal  alone  at  his  post.  Neither  entreaty  nor  command  could  in 
duce  the  men  to  return.  But  Churchill  never  wavered.  Regardless  of  the  rain  of 
shot  and  shell  he  stuck  to  his  place  and  assumed  the  duties  and  functions  of  his 
skulking  command.  He  loaded  and  fired  his  gun  eleven  times  without  any  assist 
ance  whatever,  thereby  helping  to  silence  the  Confederate  Battery  and  contribut 
ing  his  share  to  the  glorious  achievements  of  the  Union  Army  of  that  day. 


-467  — 


WHEN  THE  REBELS  WERE  ROUTED 
AT  NASHVILLE 


MARION  T.  ANDERSON, 

Captain,  Company  D,  Fifty- 
First  Indiana  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Major. 

Born  at  Clarksburg,  Indiana. 
Nov.  13, 1839. 


'"THE  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  De 
cember    16,   1864,  which  resulted  in  the  complete 
victory  of  the   Federal  armies,  began  with  a  concerted 
attack  in  the  afternoon  all  along  the  lines  upon  the  for 
tified  position  of  the  enemy.      Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post, 
commanding  the    Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  was 
ordered  to  charge  the  Confederate  right  at  Overtoil  Hill> 
and  upon  receipt  of  the  order  at  once  led  his  troops  to  the 
assault.     When  within  about  100  yards  of  the  enemy's  works  the 
gallant  colonel  was  shot,  and  his  men,  thinking  their  leader  killed, 
became  terror-stricken  and  dropped  to  the  ground.     Two  advanced 
lines  of  Colonel  Abel  D.  Straight's  Brigade  came  up  and  reaching 
the  prostrate  troops  followed  their  example,  likewise  dropping  to 
the  ground.     Next  came   the  Fifty-first  Indiana  Infantry,  led  by 
Captain   Marion   T.   Anderson.     As   he   came   upon  the  preceding 
troops  he  asked  some  of  the  officers  why  their  men  were  lying  down.     The  reply 
was :     "Because  those  in  our  front  did  the  same  thing." 

"Why  don't  you  order  them  up  and  forward  ? "     Captain  Anderson  inquired. 
"We  have ;  but  they  won't  go,"  was  the  answer. 

"Well,"  Captain  Anderson  observed,   "I  won't  lie  down  here.     I  will  take  my 
men  forward  and  obey  orders." 

He  gave  the  order:  "Charge  bayonets;  double- 
quick."  And  a\vay  he  led  his  men  over  the  bodies  of 
the  prostrate  troops,  up  the  hill  and  against  the  enemy's 
last  line  of  works  on  the  crest,  forcing  the  rebels  to 
abandon  half  of  their  guns  and  retreat  in  utter  con 
fusion. 

While  riding  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  the  brave 
captain    wras  struck    by   a  sharpshooter's    bullet,  and 
severely  wounded,  fell  almost  into  the  abandoned  and 
captured  trenches. 

The  attack  on  the  Confederate  left  was  made  by  the 
troops  commanded  by  Generals  A.  J.  Smith  and  John 
M.  Schofield,  and  resulted  in  gaining  possession  of  the 
Granny  White  Pike  and  cutting  off  the  enemy's  retreat. 
This  assault,  too,  was  met  by  the  Confederates  with  a  tremendous  fire  of  grape 
and  canister  and  musketry,  and  put  the  bravery  of  the  Union  men  to  hard  test. 
Several  incidents  occurred  wrhich  attracted  general  attention  and  won  praise  for  the 
heroes  of  the  entire  Federal  Army. 


WILLIAM  T.  SIMMONS, 

First  Lieutenant  Co.  C,  llth  Missouri 

Infantry. 

Born  in  Green  County,  111.,  January 
29, 1843. 


-468  — 


One  of  these  incidents  is  related  by  First  Lieutenant  William  T.  Simmons,  of 
Company  C,  Eleventh  Missouri  Infantry :  "Our  division  was  massed  to  the  right  of 
Granny  White  Pike — the  direct  route  from  Nashville  to  Franklin — about  400  yards 
in  front  of  Hood's  center.  My  regiment  was  in  our  second  line  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  Just  before  the  assault  all  the  boys  in  my  company  as  well  as 


THE  BRAVE  CAPTAIN  WAS  STRUCK." 

myself    were    commenting    upon    a 
Confederate  flag  (the  stars  and  bars) 
planted  on  the  enemy's  entrenchment 
directly  in  our  front.      Several   of  us 
had  remarked,  banteringly,  that  we  would 
have  the  flag  before  dark,  when  the  order  came 
to  assault.     From  the  beginning  we  had  been  under 
a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  but  as  we  started 

forward  the  regiment  in  our  immediate  front  wavered  and  became  somewhat  broken 
up  under  the  murderous  fire,  so  that  my  regiment  pressed  forward  and,  passing 
them,  dashed  on  about  200  yards.  A  moment  later  my  captain  fell.  I  was  left 
in  command  of  the  company,  and  leaving  my  place  as  file  closer  I  sprang  to  the 
front  and  led  the  way,  making  straight  for  the  flag.  Being  an  exceptionally 
speedy  runner  at  the  time,  I  was  first  to  reach  the  breastworks,  and  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  colors.  The  Confederate  sergeant  attempted  to  run  away  with  the 
prize  and  I  was  compelled  to  shoot,  wounding  him  and  thereby  securing  the  flag." 


—468- 


UNDER  THE  EYES  OF  HIS  COMMANDER 


No  LESS  a  personage  than  Major-General  James  H.  Wilson  was  the  sponsor  for 
the  distinction  bestowed  upon  First  Lieutenant  Joseph  S.  Hedges,  of  whom  he 
says :  "  He  was  as  good  a  soldier  as  I  ever  knew  and  would  never  ask  his  men  to 
go  where  he  did  not  actually  lead  them." 

Lieutenant  Hedges  was  a  member  of  the  Fourth  U.  S.  Cavalry,  and  at  Little 
Harpeth  River,  Term.,  on  the  evening  of  December  17,  1864,  under  the  direction 
and  personal  observation  of  General  Wilson,  made  a  charge  upon  a  rebel  force 
which  elicited  the  admiration  of  the  Union  commander,  who  after  the  battle  "  took 
great  pleasure  "  in  commending  the  lieutenant  and  personally  secured  for  him  the 
Medal  of  Honor. 

The  general  himself  gives  this  version  of  the  noted  charge  : 

"  It  was  directed  straight  against  a  field  battery  in  action  at  the  center  of  the 
line  of  infantry  in  line  of  battle  and  was  one  of  the  best  and  most  successful  charges 
of  cavalry  it  was  ever  my  fortune  to  witness.  Lieutenant  Hedges,  serving  as  my 
escort,  rode  along,  leading  his  gallant  regiment  down  the  turnpike  head-on  against 
the  battery,  broke  through  it,  sabred  the  gunners,  captured  or  caused  the  abandon 
ment  of  three  guns,  and  continued  his  pursuit,  spreading  terror  and  confusion  among 
the  enemy  until  stopped  by  darkness.  It  is  the  only  case  I  know  of  in  which  a 
cavalry  regiment  charged  and  broke  through  a  Confederate  line  of  battle  composed 
of  infantry  and  artillery  in  action  and  captured  the  guns." 


"WE  WILL,  LIEUTENANT;  WE  WILL" 


- 


EYE-WITNESSES  pronounce  the  feat  of  First  Lieutenant 
William  H.  Walling  at  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Decem 
ber  25,  1865,  as  among  the  most  daring  achievements  of 
the  entire  campaign.     The  lieutenant's  superiors   and 
generals  commanding  were  especially  profuse  in  their 
commendation  of  his  bravery,  from  Major-General  Ben 
jamin  F.  Butler,  Brigadier-General  A.  Ames,  Brevet 
Brigadier-General    N.    W.    Curtis,    Major-General 
Godfrey  Weitzel  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Albert  M. 
Barney,  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-second  New 
York  Infantry,  of  which   organization  Lieutenant 
Walling  was  a  member.     General  Curtis  even  went 
so  far  as  to  say  that  it  was  "one  of  the  most  gallant 

exploits  of  the  war."  In  fact,  in  view  of  the  universal  praise,  Lieutenant  Walling's 
deed  stands  out  boldly  as  the  one  redeeming  feature  in  an  otherwise  unfortunate 
undertaking,  as  the  first  attempt  to  take  Fort  Fisher  has  been  characterized. 


WILLIAM  H.  WALLING, 

First  Lieutenant.  Co.  C,142d 

New  York  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained:    Lt-Col. 

Born  at  Hartford.  K.  Y., 

Sept.  3,  ISM. 


—  470  — 


"Fort  Fisher,"  says  General  Weitzel,  "was  a  square  bastioned  work;  it  had  a 
high  relief,  a  wide  and  deep  ditch,  excepting  on  the  sea  front,  a  glacis,  casements 

and  bomb-proofs  sufficiently  large 
to  hold  its  garrison.  I  counted 
seventeen  guns  in  position  bear 
ing  up  the  beach  and  between 
each  pair  of  guns  there  was  a 
traverse  so  thick  and  so  high 
above  the  parapet  that  I  had  no 
doubt  they  were  all  bomb-proofs. 
A  stockade  ran  from  the  northeast 
angle  of  the  counterscarps  of  the 
works  to  the  water's  edge  on  the 
sea-side. 

"  The  expedition,  led  by  Gen 
eral  Butler,  with  a  force  of  6,500, 
embarked  at  Bermuda  Hundred, 
Va.,  for  Fortress  Monroe,  Decem 
ber  8th.  In  order  to  mislead  the 
Confederate  scouts  and  signal 
men  as  to  the  real  object  of  the 
movement,  the  fleet  carrying  the 
troops  took  up  one  direction  dur 
ing  the  day  and  a  different  one 
at  night,  and  on  December  24th 
came  in  sight  of  Fort  Fisher, 
where  the  naval  fleet  under  Ad 
miral  Porter  was  already  engaged 
in  bombarding  it.  About  noon 
the  following  day  the  troops, 
under  cover  of  the  gunboats, 
effected  a  landing.  General  Cur 
tis  at  once  pushed  up  his  bri 
gade  to  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  fort,  captured  a 
rebel  work,  called  Half -Moon 
Fort,  containing  a  20 -pounder 

"SECURED  THE  FLAG  AND   RETURNED   UNINJURED."  gun>     and     Captured      about      100 

prisoners. 

"  The  onward  movement  was  continued  till  the  brigade's  main  line  of  skirmishers 
was  within  150  paces  of  the  fort,  capturing  in  the  advance  another  important  out 
work,  which  also  contained  a  large  gun.  During  all  the  time  that  this  advance  was 


—  471  — 


made  the  navy  kept  up  a  very  heavy  and  well  directed  assault,  which,  however,  did 
little  material  damage  to  the  fortification.  The  rebels  were  nowhere  in  sight,  but 
kept  in  their  casements  as  long  as  the  shells  were  being  thrown  from  the  Union 
vessels.  At  the  same  time  the  fire  prevented  the  troops  from  further  advancing 
and  attempting  to  storm  the  works.  The  minute,  however,  the  navy  would  cease 
throwing  shells,  the  rebels  would  emerge  from  their  places  of  safety,  mount  the 
parapets,  work  their  guns  and  pour  such  withering  fire  upon  the  Federals  that  all 
further  progress  was  stopped  and  the  help  and  aid  of  the  naval  fleet  had  to  be  called 
in  again,  when  the  Confederates  would  immediately  withdraw  to  their  bomb-proofs." 

Three  companies  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-second  New  York  Infantry 
were  in  this  most  advanced  line  of  skirmishers,  and  the  leading  company,  C,  was 
commanded  by  the  aforementioned  Lieutenant  Walling. 

"  I  was  just  stationing  my  men,"  he  says  in  describing  the  most  interesting  inci 
dent  of  the  attack,  "  being  ordered  to  protect  them  from  the  fire  of  the  fleet,  and 
had  them  scoop  out  the  sand  and  make  gopher  holes  to  lie  in,  when  a  large  shell 
from  one  of  the  monitors  struck  the  ground  near  us,  ploughing  a  trench  so  deep  that 
some  of  our  men  took  refuge  therein,  the  shell  ricochetting  into  the  river  beyond. 
Another  shot  from  the  fleet  cut  down  the  Confederate  flag  on  the  fort. 

"I  said  to  my  men  :  Til  go  and  get  the  flag;  you  keep  a  sharp  lookout  for  the 
riflemen  on  the  works.  Let  every  man  have  his  gun  in  position  to  fire.' 

"'We  will,  Lieutenant ;  we  will !'  came  the  response  from  my  men  as  with  one 
voice.  I  started  off.  I  had  gone  but  a  few  steps  when  one  of  the  great  monitor 
shells  passed  in  front  of  me  and  exploded  before  reaching  the  river.  I  confess  I 
was  frightened,  and  for  an  instant  halted  involuntarily,  stunned  by  the  fearful  crash. 
But,  quickly  recovering  my  wits,  I  proceeded  and  came  to  a  place  where  a  shell  had 
cut  a  hole  in  the  palisade  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  flag.  Through  this  opening  1 
entered,  passed  along  toward  the  river,  gained  the  parapet,  secured  the  flag  and  re 
turned,  uninjured  as  I  had  gone,  to  the  picket  line." 

And  thus  was  Lieutenant  Walling  the  only  Union  man  who  in  that  expedition 
had  set  his  foot  upon  the  rebel  stronghold. 


First  Assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C. — During  the  latter  part  of  December,  1864,  an  expedition  composed 
of  naval  and  military  forces  sailed  from  Hampton  Roads  to  gain  the  harbor  of  Wilmington,  IT.  C.,  and 
reduce  its  chief  defense,  Fort  Fisher. 

Admiral  Porter  was  in  command  of  the  naval  forces,  with  General  Butler  in  command  of  the  land 
forces.  The  latter  conceived  the  idea  of  blowing  up  an  old  vessel  loaded  with  235  pounds  of  powder, 
directly  in  front  of  the  fort,  with  a  view  of  throwing  the  enemy  into  confusion  and  then  attacking  the  fort. 
The  powder  boat  was  towed  to  its  position,  and  on  the  night  of  the  23d  the  fuse  ignited  ;  but  the  result, 
instead  of  being  a  gigantic  explosion,  was  only  a  blaze  lighting  the  heavens.  Very  little  concussion  was 
felt,  and  all  that  could  be  heard  was  a  dull  detonation. 

On  the  25th  the  troops  were  landed  and  pushed  close  to  the  fort,  but  Butler  failed  to  move  with 
energy,  feeling  that  the  works  could  not  be  carried  by  assault,  and  deliberately  abandoned  the  enterprise 
and  returned  to  Fortress  Monroe  with  his  troops  the  following  day. 


—  472  — 


HISTORIC  INCIDENTS  FROM  THE 
FALL  OF  FORT  FISHER 


JOHN  WAINWRIGHT, 


FTER  General  Butler's 
failure  to  capture 
Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  a  sec 
ond  expedition  was  decid 
ed  upon  and  entrusted 

to    General 

Alfred    H. 

Terry,  with 

orders    to 

take    the 

Confederate 


ZACHARIAH  C.  NEAHR, 


First  Lieutenant.  Co.  F,  97th 

Pennsylvania  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained:  Colonel. 


ing,  Va.,  January  5, 1865. 


Private.  Co.  K.  142nd  New  York 

Infantry. 

Born  at  Palatine  Bridge,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  9, 1830. 


stronghold  by  storm  if  he  could, 
by  a  siege  if  he  must.  This  ex 
pedition  left  Bermuda  Land- 
General  Terry  had  with  him  an  army  of  8,457  men  picked 
from  the  several  army  corps,  the  flower  of  the  Union  forces.  As  on  the  former 
occasion,  Admiral  Porter  was  instructed  to  co-operate  with  his  ships.  After  some 
difficulty,  due  mainly  to  rough  weather  and  a  heavy  surf,  a  landing  was  effected 
January  13th.  The  8,000  men  with  three  days'  rations  in  their  haversacks  and  forty 
rounds  of  ammunition  in  their  boxes,  six  days'  supply  of  hard  bread  in  bulk,  ten 
pieces  of  artillery,  300,000  additional  rounds  of  small  arm  ammunition  and  the  neces 
sary  number  of  entrenching  tools  and  implements,  were  safely  brought  on  shore. 

Picket  lines  were  immediately  thrown  out  and  shots  exchanged  with  the  enemy's 
outposts,  but  no  serious  damage  was  done  to  either  side  in  these  preliminary  skir 
mishes. 

General  Terry's  first  object  after  landing  was  to  throw  a  strong  defensive  line 
across  the  peninsula  from  the  Cape  Fear  River  to  the  sea,  so  as  to  have  the  rear 
protected.  This  was  accomplished,  though  it  consumed  the  entire  day  and  was  not 
completed  late  at  night. 


Second  Assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.— After  the  dismal  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  December  23-25,  1864,  both 
Grant  and  Porter  were  anxious  to  renew  the  assault.  A  plan  was  arranged  whereby  Porter  was  to  continue 
to  hold  his  position  in  front  of  the  fort  while  General  Terry  was  to  attack  with  his  land  forces  under  the 
fire  of  Porter's  ships. 

The  attack  was  made  on  the  13th  of  January  with  a  vigorous  fire  from  Porter's  whole  fleet,  and  in  a 
short  time  Terry's  troops  gained  the  inside  of  the  fort,  which  consisted  of  a  system  of  bomb-proofs  surrounded 
by  a  large  fortification.  Here  the  fighting  was  very  severe  ;  but  being  compelled  to  yield  one  traverse  after 
another  the  rebels  were  driven  out  and  a  complete  victory  won.  The  losses  of  the  Federals,  however,  were 
quite  heavy,  numbering  nearly  1,000  killed  and  wounded.  The  Confederates  lost  2,500  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missing. 


—  473  — 

On  the  14th  entrenchments  were  dug,  breastworks  reaching  from  the  river  to  the 
sea  constructed  and  covered  by  abatis  and  a  firm  foothold  on  the  peninsula  secured. 
The  assault  was  planned  for  the  following  day  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  In  the 
meantime  Admiral  Porter  was  to  pour  a  steady  and  destructive  fire  into  the  fort 
and  demolish  the  palisades  as  much  as  possible,  and  furnish  an  opening  for  the 
advancing  troops.  Accordingly  the  admiral's  guns  began  to  roar  at  sundown  and 
continued  all  night.  Early  the  following  morning,  January  15th,  all  of  the  vessels, 
except  a  division  left  to  aid  in  the  defense  of  the  northern  line,  moved  into  position 
and  a  fire,  magnificent  alike  for  its  power  and  accuracy,  was  opened  upon  the  fort. 
Under  the  protection  of  this  fire  General  Terry  manoeuvred  and  moved  his  troops 
in  preparation  for  the  great  final  assault  so  skillfully  that  toward  the  afternoon  he 
had  a  body  of  100  daring  sharpshooters,  sheltered  in  pits,  within  175  yards  of  the 
enemy's  works,  firing  at  the  parapets  of  the  fort.  Another  and  much  larger  body  of 
troops  was  brought  up  to  within  475  yards  of  the  fort. 

Shortly  after  3  o'clock,  all  arrangements  having  been  completed,  the  signal  for 
the  attack  was  given.  Admiral  Porter,  as  agreed,  at  once  changed  the  direction  of 
his  fire  and  thus  diverted  the  enemy's  attention  from  the  main  points  of  attack. 
The  troops  sprang  from  their  trenches  and,  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from  the  fort, 
dashed  forward  at  double-quick.  The  ground  over  which  they  passed  was  marshy 
and  difficult,  but  they  soon  reached  the  palisades,  passed  through  them  and  effected 
a  lodgment  on  the  parapet.  At  the  same  time  a  column  of  sailors  and  marines 
advanced  up  the  beach  and  attacked  the  northeastern  bastion,  but  was  met  with  such 
a  murderous  fire  that  it  was  unable  to  get  up  the  parapet  and  after  a  severe  struggle 
and  heavy  loss  was  compelled  to  withdraw. 

A  foothold  having  been  secured  on  the  parapet  troops  were  sent  to  re-enforce  the 
advanced  lines,  and  slowly  but  irresistibly  the  rebels  were  driven  from  one  position 
after  the  other.  Hand-to-hand  fighting  of  the  most  desperate  character  took  place, 
the  huge  traverses  of  the  land  face  being  used  successively  by  the  enemy  as  breast 
works,  over  the  tops  of  which  the  contending  parties  fired  in  each  others'  faces. 
Nine  of  these  traverses  were  carried  by  the  attacking  force.  The  fire  of  the  navy 
upon  that  portion  of  the  works  not  captured  by  the  Federals  continued  until  about 
dusk,  when  the  two  remaining  traverses  were  carried  and — the  fort  was  captured  ; 
captured  with  all  its  surviving  defenders,  about  2,000  officers  and  men,  including 
Major-General  Whiting  and  Colonel  Lamb,  the  commandant  of  the  fort.  In  addition 
large  quantities  of  ammunition  and  commissary  stores  fell  into  the  victors'  hands. 

The  scenes  toward  the  close  of  the  battle  were  indescribably  horrible.  Great 
cannon  lay  in  ruins,  surrounded  by  the  bodies  of  their  defenders ;  men  were  found 
partly  buried  in  graves  dug  by  the  shells  which  had  slain  them.  The  outlines  of 
the  works  could  now  and  then  be  seen  by  the  flash  of  an  exploding  shell  or  the  blaze 
of  musketry,  but  indistinct  as  the  creation  of  some  hideous  dream.  Soldiers  were 
falling  everywhere,  shot  in  the  head  by  rifle-balls.  There  was  no  outcry  ;  simply  a 
spurt  of  blood  and  all  was  over.  But  death  does  not  always  come  in  this  way.  There 


—  474  — 

arose  now  and  then  an  agonizing  clamor  of  wounded  men,  writhing  in  the  sand, 
beseeching  those  near  them  to  end  their  suffering.  A  color-bearer  had  fallen,  and 
though  choked  by  blood  and  sand,  he  murmured :  "I  am  gone.  Take  the  flag."  An 
officer  who  had  been  shot  through  the  heart  retained  a  nearly  erect  position,  leaning 
against  a  gun-carriage.  Some  lay  face  downward  in  the  sand,  and  others  who  had 
been  close  together  when  struck  by  an  exploding  shell  had  fallen  in  a  confused 
mass,  forming  a  mingled  heap  of  broken  limbs  and  mangled  bodies.  At  times  a  grim 
and  uncanny  humor  seizes  a  wounded  man.  Captain  A.  G.  Lawrence,  of  General 
Ames'  staff,  lay  on  his  back ;  one  arm  had  been  amputated,  and  the  other  arm  as 
well  as  his  neck  was  pierced  by  rifle-balls.  He  had  told  the  chaplain  to  write  his 
father  that  he  could  not  live,  and  then,  calling  another  officer  to  him,  whispered,  as 
he  held  up  the  stump  of  his  amputated  arm :  "  Isn't  this  a  devil  of  a  bob-tail  flush  ? " 

That  there  were  many  deeds  of  extraordinary  merit  and  valor  performed  by  the 
men  who  won  one  of  the  most  brilliant  successes  of  the  war  goes  without  saying. 
However,  the  conduct  of  First  Lieutenant  John  Wainwright  of  Company  F,  Ninety- 
seventh  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  in  command  of  the  three  hundred  men  of  his  regi 
ment  who  participated  in  the  expedition,  Private  Zachariah  C.  Neahr  of  Company 
K,  One  hundred  and  forty-second  New  York  Infantry,  General  N.  M.  Curtis  and 
Colonel  Galusha  Pennypacker,  of  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  was  so 
conspicuous  as  to  earn  for  them  the  Medal  of  Honor. 

Brevet  Brigadier-General  Curtis,  though  in  command  of  the  First  Brigade, 
Second  Division,  Twenty-fourth  Army  Corps,  took  up  a  musket,  and,  stepping  into 
the  ranks,  led  his  men  in  each  of  the  assaults,  braving  the  storm  of  rebel  shot  and 
shell.  The  uniform  of  a  brigadier-general  in  the  ranks  made  him  a  conspicuous 
object  and  the  rebels  concentrated  their  fire  upon  him,  wounding  him  three  times. 
These  wounds,  however,  did  not  deter  the  general,  and  he  fought  throughout  the 
remainder  of  the  day,  until  shortly  before  dark,  when  he  fell,  wounded  a  fourth 
time,  and  so  severely  that  he  had  to  be  carried  to  the  rear. 

Colonel  Pennypacker,  commanding  the  second  brigade  of  the  same  division,  like 
wise  encouraged  his  men  by  personally  leading  them.  He  had  gallantly  led  them 
to  the  third  traverse  and  with  the  colors  of  one  of  his  regiments  in  hand  was  the 
first  to  mount  it.  Amidst  a  hail  of  the  enemy's  bullets  he  bravely  planted  the  colors 
on  their  works,  but  while  doing  this  he  was  severely  wounded.  Lieutenant  Wain 
wright,  commanding  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  also  displayed 
wonderful  courage  in  leading  his  regiment,  even  after  he  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  assault.  He  pluckily  concealed  from  his  men  the  pain  he  was  suffering  and  with 
renewed  energy  he  led  them  on  to  victory,  retiring  to  the  hospital  only  after  the 
day's  fighting  was  done. 

Private  Neahr,  who  had  volunteered  with  a  number  of  others  of  his  regiment  to  cut 
the  palisading,  rushed  up  ahead  of  the  column  and  with  the  fire  of  the  enemy  con 
centrated  upon  him,  cut  it  down,  thus  enabling  the  assaulting  column  to  pass  through. 


Painted  by  C.  D.  Graves. 


AT  THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS. 


—  477  — 


RISKED   BEING   BLOWN  TO  ATOMS 
AT  DUTCH   GAP  CANAL 


WALTER  THORN, 

First  Lieut., U.S. Colored  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained: 

Brev.  Major  Vols. 

Born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 

Nov.  18, 1844. 


TT  WAS  at  the  beginning  of  January,  1865.  General  Butler, 
commanding  the  Army  of  the  James,  was  expected  to  reach 
and  capture  Richmond  by  operating  on  the  south  side  of  the 
James  River.  His  movements  were  blocked  by  the  sinking  of 
obstructions  wrhich  rendered  it  impossible  for  him  to  navigate 
the  stream,  and  by  a  powerful  Confederate  battery  at  French 
Beach. 

To  overcome  these  difficulties  the  resourceful  Butler  had 
caused  a  canal  to  be  cut  through  the  Dutch  Gap  peninsula,  so 
that  the  enemy's  batteries  could  be  flanked  and  the  obstructions 
in  the  river  passed  by  the  navy. 

Nothing  remained  to  be  done  but  remove  the  great  earthen  bulkhead  that  sepa 
rated  the  two  bodies  of  water.  This  had  been  sapped  and  galleried,  and  more  powder 
was  packed  away  in  it  than  was  used  in  blowing  up  the  famous  "Crater"  at  Peters 
burg.  The  main  body  of  troops  had  been  drawn  off  from  the  neighborhood  of  the 
vast  mine  for  safety,  and  it  was  supposed  that  none  had  been  left  behind  but  the  few 
whose  duty  it  was  to  light  the  fuse  and  then  escape. 

The  supreme  moment  had  arrived.  The  fuse  had  been  lighted,  and  the  officers 
were  standing  in  a  group  at  a  safe  distance  discussing  the  question  whether  the 
work  was  to  be  crowned  with  success. 

A  member  of  General  Butler's  staff  galloped  up  and  shouted  excitedly : 
"  Has  the  guard  opposite  the  bulkhead  been  withdrawn  ? " 
Somebody  answered,  hardly  articulately,  rather  with  a  sort  of  gasp : 
"No!" 

There  was  a  score  of  men  in  the  guard.  There  were  tons  of  powder  beside  them. 
Fire  was  eating  its  way  up  the  fuse  and  might  at  any  second  set  loose  the  terrific 
force  of  the  mine. 

The  bravery  of  the  officers  before  whose  minds  those  thoughts  flashed  could  not 
l)e  doubted— it  had  been  proved  too  often  for  that — but  to  go  and  warn  the  squad 
seemed  so  utterly  beyond  reason,  so  surely  a  useless  throwing  away  of  another  life, 
that  they  stood  there  rigid  and  pale,  with  one  exception — Walter  Thorn,  first 
lieutenant  of  the  IT.  S.  Colored  Infantry,  who  hesitated,  but  only  long  enough  to 
form  a  resolve.  Then  he  dashed  off  in  the  direction  of  the  bulkhead. 

Perceiving  his  intention,  his  fellow  officers  called  to  him  to  return — warned  him, 
pleaded  with  him.  Paying  no  heed,  he  ran  on,  reached  the  bulkhead,  climbed  to 
its  summit,  faced  the  storm  of  bullets  that  the  rebels  directed  at  him,  and  stood 
there  until  he  had  ordered  the  picket  guard  to  flee  to  a  place  of  safety. 


•478- 


He  leaped  from  the  top  of  the  mine  ;  the  explosion  took  place  ;  the  earth  was 
scattered  in  all  directions  and  a  great  abyss  remained,  but  the  young  lieutenant 
was  unharmed. 

"It  was  as  deliberate  an  act  of  self-sacrifice  and  valor  as  was  ever  performed  in 
our  country  or  any  other,"  said  one  of  his  superior  officers. 


ONLY   ONE   MAN   LOST  IN   A   GALLANT  RAID 


IT  AVING  driven  Hood  from  Nashville,  General  Thomas 
*•  *•  lost  no  time  in  sending  detachments  of  cavalry 
after  the  fleeing  Confederates,  who,  scattering  in  differ 
ent  directions,  were  trying  to  find  their  respective  ways 
back  to  Selma,  Mobile  or  the  Carolinas.  Because  of 
continuous  rains  and  subsequent  bad  roads,  the  pursuit 
undertaken  by  the  bodies  of  infantry,  as  accessory  to 
the  cavalry  operations,  was  stopped  early  in  January, 
1865,  at  Eastport,  Miss. 

Among  the  forces  of  Union  cavalry  thus  sent  to  the 
south  was  the  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  in  command 
of  Colonel  William  J.  Palmer,  he  having  been  directed  on 
the  13th  to  march  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  General  Lyon, 
who  was  thought  to  have  crossed  the  Paint  Rock  River. 
As  most  of  his  horses  wrere  much  fagged  from  a  previous 
expedition,  Colonel  Palmer  took  with  him  only  180  men. 
At  4  A.  M.  on  the  24th,  after  having  learned  that  Lyon  had  passed  through  Warren- 
ton  and  would  probably  bivouac  the  same  night  at  Red  Hill,  Colonel  Palmer  started 
for  that  place  and  surprised  his  camp  of  350  men.  One  battalion  of  fifty  men,  in 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lamborn,  had  first  been  detached  to  take  one  of 
Lyon's  regiments,  which  was  encamped  with  its  artillery  near  Red  Hill,  a  second 
battalion  to  take  a  camp  of  150  men  one  mile  from  there,  while  Palmer  and  the 
remaining  battalion  pushed  on  to  capture  Lyon,  who  was  quartered  with  his  staff 
and  escort  at  the  house  of  Tom  Noble,  half  a  mile  beyond.  The  advance  guard 
reached  Lyon's  headquarters  and  captured  him  at  the  door  of  Noble's  house,  in  his 
night  clothes.  The  general  surrendered  to  Sergeant  Arthur  P.  Lyon  while  the 
advance  guard  was  charging  the  escort,  but  begged  permission  to  put  on  his  panta 
loons,  coat  and  boots,  which  Sergeant  Lyon  granted,  accompanying  him  into  the 
bedroom  for  that  purpose.  At  that  moment  the  escort  fired  a  volley  at  the  advance 
guard,  when  the  sergeant  said  :  "  Come,  General,  I  can't  allow  you  much  more 
time."  The  general  then  suddenly  seized  a  pistol  and  shot  the  sergeant,  killing  him 


**&fo>)  !•  *-•-- Ny* 


WILLIAM  J.  PALMER, 

Colonel,  15th  Penn'a  Cavalry. 
Highest  rank  attained  :    Brevet 

Brig. -General. 

Born.Kinsdale  Farm, Kent  Co., Del., 
Sept.  13. 1836. 


—  479  — 

instantly,  and  made  his  escape  through  the  back  door  in  the  dark.  Colonel  Palmer 
pushed  on  in  the  direction  of  other  camp  fires  which  could  be  seen  ahead.  These 
proved  to  be  at  the  artillery  camp,  where  one  regiment  of  the  enemy  had  already 
become  alarmed  by  the  firing  and  had  saddled  up  and  moved  out,  only  to  be 
met  by  the  battalion  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lamborn,  who  at  once  attacked 
them. 

Colonel  Palmer  thus  surprised  General  Lyon's  superior  force,  routed  him  'and 
took  over  one  hundred  prisoners,  a  piece  of  artillery  and  munitions  of  war  with  the 
loss  of  only  one  man,  Sergeant  Lyon. 


SWAM  THE   RIVER   UNDER   DIFFICULTIES 


1P\URING  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  which  com- 
*-*'  menced  with  the  investment  of  that  city  by  the 
Federal  forces  during  the  early  part  of  June,  1864,  it 
became  the  aim  of  General  Grant  to  flank  the  posi 
tion  of  the  enemy  by  swinging  to  the  left.  In  the 
execution  of  this  movement  on  Feb.  5,  1865,  occurred 
the  action  at  Monk's  Neck  crossing  of  the  Rowanty 
River,  Va.,  and  the  engagement  at  Hatcher's  Run  on 
the  following  day. 

Captain  S.  Rodmond  Smith,  of  Company  C,  Fourth 
Delaware  Infantry,  relates  the  following  about  this 
affair : 

"  To  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  was  assigned  the  duty 
of  initiating  this  movement,  and  the  third  brigade  of 
the  second  division  of  this  corps  was  under  arms,  with 
tents  struck  and  three  days'  rations  in  their  haver 
sacks,  all  the  preceding  night,  and  about  sunrise  on 
the  morning  of  the  5th  was  marching  by  the  Halifax 
Road  to  the  west  for  Monk's  Neck  Crossing.  About 
eight  o'clock  A.  M.  the  brigade  was  halted  in  the  road 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  our  objective  point. 
It  was  ascertained  that  the  bridge  over  the  crossing 
had  been  burned  to  prevent  the  passage  of  our  troops,  and  that  substantial  entrench 
ments  had  been  erected  on  the  bluff  bordering  the  margin  of  the  stream  on  the 
opposite  side.  A  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  "  Bucktails,"  out  of  our  brigade,  was  de 
tailed  to  cross  the  stream  and  carry  the  works.  After  some  heavy  firing  the  Buck- 
tails  were  compelled  to  retire. 


S.  RODMOND  SMITH, 

Captain,  Co.  C,  4th  Del.  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Brevet  Major,  U.  S.  Vols. 
Born  at  Wilmington,  Del., 
April  20, 1841. 


DAVID    E.   BUCKINGHAM, 

1st  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  4th  Del.  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attained: 

t':i|>tain,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  at  Pleasant  Hill,  Del., 

Feb.  3, 1840. 


—  480  — 

"Our  regiment,  with  Major  D.  H.  Kent  in  command,  was  then  detailed  for  the 
service,  and  immediately  moved  down  the  road  toward  the  crossing.  The  ground 
was  slightly  rolling  and  open  farm-land,  except  near  the  bank  of  the  stream, 
where  a  thin  skirt  of  trees  bordered  the  river,  affording  some  cover.  Major  Kent, 
finding  that  the  bridge  was  destroyed,  filed  the  regiment  to  the  right,  under  heavy 
fire,  but  somewhat  protected  by  the  trees.  He  then  endeavored  to  lead  the  regiment 
across  the  river,  but  was  shot  while  swimming  his  horse  and  was  carried  to  the  rear. 


"THE  WATER   PROVED  TO   BE  OVER  SIX  FEET  DEEP." 

'*  There  was  considerable  floating  ice  in  the  stream,  and  the  regiment,  seeing  the 
depth  of  the  water,  did  not  cross,  but  continued  to  move  slowly  to  the  right,  keeping 
up  a  brisk  fire  on  the  enemy.  At  a  point  some  two  or  three  hundred  feet  farther  to 
the  right  I  observed  some  bushes  projecting  from  the  water,  and,  thinking  this  an 
indication  that  the  water  was  shallow  enough  to  wade,  called  on  my  command  to 
follow  me,  and  sprang  into  the  stream.  The  water  proved  to  be  over  six  feet  deep 
within  that  distance  from  the  shore,  but  I  was  a  strong  swimmer,  and  although 


—  481  — 

encumbered  by  a  haversack,  belt  and  cape  overcoat,  succeeded  in  reaching  a  small 
island  in  mid-stream,  under  a  heavy  plunging  fire  which  splashed  the  water  around 
me.  In  the  meantime  the  regiment  moved  cautiously  forward  among  the  scattered 
trees  to  the  right,  and  shortly  after  crossed  the  stream  to  the  island  upon  the  ice 
which  had  formed  during  the  preceding  two  days  and  nights  and  the  fallen  logs 
frozen  to  the  surface.  From  thence  all  hands  slid  and  waded  to  the  opposite  shore 
and  we  carried  the  enemy's  entrenchments  with  a  rush,  capturing  some  fifty  or  sixty 
rebels.  The  remainder  of  their  forces  had  retired  before  we  reached  their  works. 
After  a  short  time  spent  in  re-forming  the  regiment  we  pushed  ahead  in  quick  time 
until  the  evening  and  on  the  following  day  participated  in  the  action  at  Hatcher's 
Run,  Virginia." 

Lieutenant  David  E.  Buckingham,  also  of  the  Fourth  Delaware  Regiment,  had 
an  experience  similar  to  that  of  Captain  Smith,  and  describes  it  as  follows  : 

"I  was  in  command  of  Company  E,  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  regiment,  and 
the  movement  by  the  right  flank  threw  me  at  the  head  of  my  command.  As  we 
passed  General  Ayres,  our  Division  Commander,  I  heard  him  say  to  Major  Kent: 
'You  are  expected  to  carry  the  bridge,  if  you  lose  every  man! '  I  knew  that  such  an 
order  meant  business,  and  as  we  broke  into  a  double-quick  and  came  under  fire  the 
men  gave  a  lusty  cheer,  and  down  the  road  we  went  with  Major  Kent  riding  at  my 
side.  We  reached  the  bridge  only  to  discover  that  it  had  been  effectually  destroyed, 
filed  to  the  right,  and  as  soon  as  we  had  cleared  the  road  and  were  fairly  in  the 
meadow  filed  to  the  left,  and  in  a  moment  were  at  the  water's  edge. 

"The  general's  command  was  ringing;  in  my  ears  :  'Carry  the  bridge  if  you  lose 
every  man.'  It  was  no  time  to  hesitate  or  turn  back.  Three  thousand  men,  our  en 
tire  brigade,  lined  the  meadow  lands,  protected  by  the  trees,  and  a  terrible  fusillade  was 
going  on.  I  stepped  on  the  ice,  which  extended  only  six  feet  from  the  shore.  It  broke 
under  my  weight  and  I  struck  out  for  the  rebel  side  and  was  soon  beyond  my  depth, 
but  I  swam  to  the  south  side,  the  Minie  balls  skimming  the  water  all  around  me. 

"Reaching  the  bank,  I  clutched  a  projecting  stump  root  and  took  a  view  of  the 
situation  from  the  water.  Harvey  Durnall,  John  Bradford  and  Holton  Yarnall,  of 
my  command,  waded  in  up  to  their  waists,  but,  discovering  the  depth  of  the  stream, 
fell  back.  In  the  meantime  Major  Kent  had  been  dangerously  wounded  while 
urging  his  horse  into  the  water.  The  water  was  icy  cold  and  I  did  not  care  to  scale 
the  bank,  as  I  was  the  only  man  of  the  command  who  crossed  the  river  at  the 
bridge,  having  carried  the  ford,  and  the  freezing  question — not  the  burning  one- 
was,  could  I  hold  it  ? 

"  There  I  remained,  waiting  for  reinforcements,  for  at  least  fifteen  minutes.  But 
our  boys  were  not  idle ;  far  up  the  stream  they  had  been  crossing  on  felled  trees 
and  on  the  ice,  and  soon  I  heard  them  charging  down  the  Confederate  side.  When 
the  enemy  discovered  they  were  flanked  they  beat  a  retreat  and  the  bridge  was  ours. 

"  I  reswam  the  river  and  dried  my  clothes  beside  a  roaring  fire  which  the  boys 
had  made  while  the  engineers  rebuilt  the  bridge." 


—  482 


VALOROUS   DEEDS  AT  HATCHER'S   RUN 


'"F 


JAMES   COEY, 


Major,  147th  New  York  Vol.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained  : 

Major-General  Cal.  N.  G. 

Born  in  New  York  City,  Feb.  12, 

1841. 


FIERCE  fighting  of  Hatcher's  Run  and  Dabney's  Mills, 
Va.,  February  5  and  6,  1865,  brought  to  light  numerous 
examples  of  individual  bravery    among  officers   and   men. 
Valorous  deeds  are  narrated  of  several  men  who  were  re 
warded  with  the  Medal  of  Honor,  as  follows  : 

The  Third  Brigade,  Third  Division  of  the  Fifth  Army 
Corps,  to  which  Major  James  Coey's  command,  the  One  hun 
dred  and  forty-seventh  New  York  Infantry,  was  attached, 
advanced  over  an  open  field,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
enemy,  who  were  entrenched  in  a  wood.  The  brigade  line 
of  battle  reached  to  the  edge  of  this  wood,  but  owing  to  the 
fierce  fire  it  refused  to  advance  farther,  and  lay  down,  seeking 
shelter  on  the  ground.  The  brigade  commander,  General 
Henry  A.  Morrow,  placed  himself  in  front  of  his  command 
and  implored  the  line  to  move  forward,  but  the  effect  of  the 
enemy's  fire  had  been  so  appalling  that  the  men  hesitated.  The  situation  was  most 
critical,  because  the  brigade  adjoining  Morrow  on  his  right  was  also  sorely  pressed 
and  its  line  in  danger  ;  General  Crawford,  the  division  commander,  was  urging 
Morrow's  advance,  hoping  to  draw  the  fire  from  the  right  front  and  relieve  the  pres 
sure  there,  but  the  lines  had  become  terror-stricken.  It  was  at  this  moment  that 
Major  Coey,  who  had,  by  word  and  action,  been  seconding  General  Morrow's  efforts 
to  advance  the  line  and  hold  it  to  its  duty,  seized  the  colors  of  his  regiment  and 
advanced  with  them.  The  effect  was  magical  !  Color  after  color  was  taken  until 
the  entire  brigade  line  was  on  its  feet  and  with  a  cheer  advanced  into  the  woods  to 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  enemy's  works.  Here  its  farther  advance  was  stopped  by  a 
wide  and  deep  ditch  filled  with  water. 

Major  Coey  communicated  the  situation  to  General  Morrow,  now  in  the  rear  of 
the  line,  who,  seeing  the  fast  thinning  ranks  of  his  command,  and  the  hopelessness 
of  advancing,  ordered  the  line  back  to  the  edge  of  the  wood,  there  to  entrench.  The 
major  then  called  the  attention  of  the  brigade  commander  to  the  lack  of  ammuni 
tion,  hardly  five  rounds  to  a  man  being  left,  whereupon  General  Morrow  ordered  the 
brigade  to  meet  any  advance  of  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet  and  go  on  entrenching. 
Coey  immediately  ordered  the  men  to  obtain  cartridges  from  the  dead  and  wounded 


Hatcher's  Rim  and  Dalmey's  Mills. — Early  in  February,  1865,  a  second  attempt  was  made  to  gain  possession 
of  the  South  Side  Railroad,  near  Hatcher's  Run,  which  resulted  in  the  battle  of  that  name  and  included  the 
actions  at  Dabney's  Mills,  Rowaiity  Creek,  and  Gravelly  Run.  The  battle  began  February  5th  and  lasted 
until  the  7th,  when  the  Confederates  were  forced  to  retire  with  a  loss  of  1,000 and  their  commander,  General 
John  IVgram.  The  Union  loss  was  2,000,  the  greater  portion  of  which  belonged  to  Crawford's  Division, 
which  was  driven  back  by  the  Confederates  in  great  confusion. 


—  484  — 

lying  along  his  front,  and  to  make  obstructions  to  retard  the  enemy's  advance  by 
bending  and  intertwining  young  saplings.  In  this  work  he  was  setting  his  men  an 
example,  when  the  Confederates,  now  reinforced  by  artillery,  opened  a  fierce  and 
destructive  fire,  and  made  a  spirited  advance  on  the  front  and  flank,  driving  the 
Union  line  back. 

At  this  juncture  Major  Coey  was  severely  wounded — a  bullet  entering  below  the 
left  eye  and  passing  out  behind  the  right  ear — and  was  being  borne  from  the  field 
in  the  arms  of  two  comrades  when  consciousness  returned.  Immediately  he  pro 
cured  a  horse  from  an  ambulance  sergeant,  and  being  lifted  into  the  saddle  and 
held  there  by  two  of  his  men  he  turned  to  the  line  and,  rallying  it,  for  the  second 
time  made  a  heroic  attempt  to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 


Four  times  on  this  day  the  One  hundred  and  seventh  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  to 
which  Sergeant  John  C.  Delaney  belonged,  had  charged  on  the  enemy's  works,  and 
each  time  had  been  beaten  back.  In  each  of  these  charges  many  brave  men  fell 
close  to  the  enemy,  who  were  thoroughly  protected  behind  impregnable  fortifica 
tions,  but  Sergeant  Delaney  had  the  wounded  of  Company  I,  his  own  company,  and 
Company  D,  which  was  also  under  his  command,  carried  back,  so  that  none  were 
left  between  the  lines.  It  was  when  his  regiment  had  been  forced  back  for  the 
fourth  time  that  Sergeant  Delaney  found  himself  up  against  the  line  of  entrench 
ments  that  had  been  hastily  thrown  up  by  the  Federal  troops.  The  momentum  of 
the  backward  movement  had  been  so  great  that  he  could  not  check  himself  until 
the  Avail  of  earth  stopped  his  run. 

There  he  stood,  surrounded  by  wounded  men  belonging  to  Company  D,  and 
heard  his  name  called  on  all  sides  by  its  members  begging  to  be  helped  off  the 
field.  The  whole  regiment  had  reached  the  safe  side  of  their  line  of  works,  while  he 
alone  stood  outside  facing  the  enemy,  with  the  pitiful  appeals  of  the  wounded  ringing 
in  his  ears,  and  the  bullets  falling  like  hail  around  him.  To  add  to  the  horror  of 
the  situation  'he  now  noticed  that  the  dry  leaves  and  underbrush  had  caught  fire 
and  that  it  was  only  a  question  of  a  few  minutes  before  the  wounded  men  \vould  be 
burned  alive.  Rushing  to  the  surviving  members  of  Company  D,  he  appealed  to  them 
to  assist  in  saving  their  wounded  comrades ;  but  to  his  surprise  and  dismay  they 
refused,  several  saying  that  it  would  be  certain  death  to  make  the  attempt.  They 
begged  him  to  get  over  the  works,  convinced  that  he  would  be  riddled  with  bullets, 
or  worse,  burned  alive.  The  sergeant  then  appealed  to  his  own  men,  but  not  one  of 
them  would  venture  in  that  shower  of  lead.  Alone  he  rushed  out,  picked  up  a 
wounded  soldier  much  heavier  than  himself  and  started  back,  reaching  the  line  of 
works,  where  many  willing  hands  were  stretched  out  to  help  lift  the  wounded  man 
over.  The  sergeant's  splendid  example  made  such  an  impression  on  his  comrades 
that  several  were  now  willing  to  join  him  in  the  perilous  work,  and  in  a  short  time 
all  the  wounded  had  been  brought  in  ;  but  scarcely  were  the  rescuers  over  the  line 
when  every  foot  of  ground  was  in  flames.  Several  of  the  men  were  wounded 


—  485  — 


while  struggling  with  their  burdens,  and  they  in  turn  had  to  be  rescued  from  the 
fire,  each  unfortunate  thus  saved  adding  to  the  glory  of  his  comrades. 

The  Thirteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  which  was  stationed  at  Hatcher's  Run, 
accomplished  one  of  the  most  gallant  charges  of  the  day.  With  drawn  sabres  the 
line  swept  down  upon  the  Thirty-third 
North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  a  severe 
hand-to-hand  fight  followed.  Sergeant 
Daniel  Caldwell,  of  Company  H,  charged 
upon  the  color-guard,  and  knocking  aside 
the  bayonets  ready  to  receive  him,  he 
seized  the  colors.  Upon  turning  about 
to  rejoin  his  regiment  he  espied  a  rebel 
officer  and  his  staff  coming  toward 
him.  Not  waiting  for  them  to  charge 
him  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  dashed 
at  them.  The  next  moment  he  was  seen 
slashing  and  parrying  with  his  sabre  in 
his  right  hand,  while  with  his  left  he 
managed  his  horse  and  retained  the 
captured  flag.  A  few  severe  strokes  and 
he  had  cut  a  path  through  the  enemy 
and  safely  regained  his  regiment. 

While  the  battle  was  raging  on  the 
5th  the  Two  hundred  and  tenth  Penn 
sylvania  Infantry  was  close  to  the  scene 
of  action,  but  did  not  reach  the  battle-  (DJOHNM.VANDERSLICE, 
field  until  noon  of  the  6th.  Shortly 
after  noon  it  reached  a  position  on  the 
extreme  left  of  the  line  of  battle  and  at 
once  pressed  forward,  driving  the  enemy 
quite  a  distance  through  the  woods 
until  they  reached  their  reserve  line, 
stationed  on  a  low  ridge.  Here  the 
rebels  fought  with  renewed  energy  and, 
with  the  additional  hail  of  lead  from 
their  reserve  poured  into  the  Union 

troops,  the  Federal  line  began  to  waver,  then  gradually  fall  back.  One  of  the 
regiments  of  the  brigade  was  thrown  into  utter  confusion  and  its  color-bearer 
killed. 

Private  Charles  Day,  of  Company  K,  TWTO  hundred  and  tenth  Regiment,  ran  to 
the  fallen  colors  and,  picking  them  up,  carried  them  throughout  the  remainder  of 
the  battle. 


Private,  Co.  D.  8th  Pa.  Cav. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Brig.-Gen.Pa.  N.G. 

Born  at  Valley  Forge,  Pa., 

1842. 


(2)  WILLIAM  SANDS, 

1st  Sergt.,Co.  G,88th  Pa.  Inf. 
Born  Oct.  14,  1837. 


'      , 


(3)  DANIEL  CALDWELL, 

Sergeant,  Co.  H,  13th  Pa.  Cav. 

Born  in  Montgomery 

Co.,  Pa. 


(4)  CHARLES  DAY, 

Private,  Co.  K.  210th  Pa.  Inf. 

Born  at  West  Laurens, 

N.Y.,  May  20,1844. 


•    (5)  JOHN  C.  DELANEY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  D,  107th  Pa.  Inf. 

Born  in  Ireland, 

April  22, 1848. 


—  486  — 

After  having  engaged  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  also  capturing  a  wagon  train,  on 
the  5th,  Gregg's  Cavalry  Division,  without  rest  of  any  kind,  confronted  the  enemy 
again  on  the  6th.  Although  the  men  had  now  been  in  the  saddle  for  nearly  twenty- 
four  hours  there  was  no  hesitation  when  the  charge  was  sounded  to  repulse  a  sudden 
heavy  assault  of  the  enemy  on  an  infantry  division.  Having  accomplished  their 
task,  they  held  the  line,  dismounted,  until  the  infantry  had  returned,  when  the  rebel 
skirmish  line  was  driven  to  the  edge  of  the  clearing,  where  within  two  hundred 
yards  was  a  line  of  rebel  works.  The  fire  from  these  was  very  heavy,  particularly 
from  a  party  of  sharpshooters  in  a  house  within  the  works.  Orders  were  given  for  a 
general  charge,  and  at  the  sound  of  the  bugle  the  line  dashed  forward,  carrying  the 
works,  which  were  first  entered  by  Private  John  M.  Vanderslice,  of  Company  D, 
Eighth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  whose  speedy  horse  carried  him  far  in  advance  and 
made  him  the  leader  of  the  line,  in  which  position  he  received  the  undivided  atten 
tion  of  the  rebels. 

Assistant  Surgeon  Jacob  F.  Raub,  of  the  Two  hundred  and  tenth  Pennsylvania 
Infantry,  was  one  of  the  board  of  operating  surgeons  of  the  field  hospital  of  the 
Fifth  Army  Corps,  established  in  the  rear  and  beyond  the  reach  of  rebel  shot  and 
shell,  but  when  he  learned  that  his  regiment  wras  without  a  surgeon  he  volunteered 
to  accompany  it  in  the  fight  and  obtained  permission  from  the  surgeon  in  charge  of 
the  field  hospital  to  do  so. 

While  attending  to  the  wounded  under  a  severe  fire,  he  discovered  a  strong 
column  of  the  enemy  stealing  by  the  left  flank  to  the  rear  of  the  Federals.  The 
whole  division  was  heavily  engaged  at  this  time,  and  no  enemy  was  expected  or 
supposed  to  be  in  that  direction.  Raub,  realizing  the  imminent  danger  of  an  attack 
on  flank  and  rear,  ran  forward  under  a  severe  fire  and  apprised  General  Ayres  and 
General  Gwyn  of  the  threatened  danger.  This  prompt  and  intelligent  action  gave 
time  to  change  the  direction  of  part  of  Gwyn's  brigade  to  meet  the  flank  attack, 
and  severely  repulse  the  enemy.  During  the  excitement  of  the  repulse  Surgeon 
Raub,  though  a  non-combatant,  took  the  musket  and  ammunition  from  a  wounded 
soldier  and  fought  gallantly  in  the  ranks  until  the  end  of  the  engagement. 

Other  brave  deeds  performed  on  this  eventful  day  are  chronicled  as  follows  : 

During  one  of  the  charges  of  the  Eighty-eighth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  First 
Sergeant  William  Sands,  of  Company  G,  was  in  advance  of  his  company  and  in  the 
face  of  a  deadly  fire  he  grasped  the  enemy's  colors  and  brought  them  into  the 
Union  lines. 

First  Lieutenant  Francis  M.  Smith,  adjutant  of  the  First  Maryland  Infantry, 
voluntarily  remained  behind  with  the  body  of  his  regimental  commander  under  a 
heavy  fire  after  the  whole  brigade  had  retired,  and  brought  the  body  off  the  field. 
Corporal  John  Thompson,  of  Company  C,  and  Corporal  Abel  G.  Cadwallader,  of  Com 
pany  M,  of  the  same  regiment,  planted  the  national  and  state  flags  on  the  enemy's 
works  in  advance  of  the  regiment's  arrival. 


—  487  — 


BRILLIANT  CONDUCT   IN   A   FIERCE    BATTLE 


HARTWELL  B.  COMPSON, 

Major,  8th  N.  Y.  Cavalry, 

Highest  rank  attained : 

Brigadier-General,  Ore.  N.  G. 

Born  at  Tyre,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y., 

May  4,  1845. 


T  EAVING  Winchester,  Va.,  on  February  27,  1865,  General 
*-*  Sheridan  began  his  inarch  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  with 
the  intention  of  destroying  the  Central  Railroad  and  James 
River  Canal.  General  Early  with  a  large  Confederate  force 
stood  ready  to  oppose  and  frustrate,  if  possible,  the  expe 
dition,  and  upon  learning  of  the  approach  of  the  Federals 
went  into  position  at  Waynesboro,  Va.  The  two  armies 
clashed  March  2d.  The  rain  had  been  pouring  in  torrents 
for  two  days  and  the  roads  were  bad  beyond  description ; 
nevertheless  the  Union  men  seemed  tireless,  although 
neither  they  nor  their  horses  could  be  recognized  for  the 
mud  which  covered  them.  General  Early  had  at  his  dis 
posal  two  brigades  of  infantry  and  some  cavalry  under 
General  Rosser,  the  infantry  occupying  breastworks.  Gen 
eral  Custer  was  ordered  to  attack  the  enemy  and,  not  want 
ing  the  Confederates  to  get  up  their  courage  during  the  delay  that  a  careful  reconnois- 
sance  necessitated,  made  his  dispositions  for  attack  at  once,  sending  three  regiments 
around  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  which  was  somewhat  exposed  by  being  advanced 
from,  instead  of  resting  upon,  the  bank  of  the  river  in  his  immediate  rear.  "Our 
general  committed  an  unpardonable  error  in  posting  so  small  a  force  with  a  swollen 
river  in  its  rear  and  with  its  flanks  wholly  exposed,"  says  a  Confederate  report  of 
General  Early's  position.  General  Custer  with  two  brigades,  partly  mounted  and 
partly  dismounted,  at  a  given  signal  boldly  attacked  and  impetuously  carried  the 
enemy's  works,  while  the  Eighth  New  York  and  the  Twenty-second  New  York 
Cavalry  formed  in  columns  of  fours,  dashed  over  the  breastworks  and  continued  the 
charge  through  the  little  town  of  Waynesboro,  the  Twenty-second  supporting  the 
Eighth  New  York.  The  Eighth  crossed  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah  River- 
General  Early's  rear — where  they  formed  with  drawn  sabres  and  held  the  east  bank 
of  the  stream.  The  enemy  being  now  pressed  by  Custer  found  their  retreat  cut  off, 
and,  completely  disorganized,  confused,  bewildered,  threw  down  their  arms.  Amidst 
cheers  and  hurrahs  the  victorious  Federals  surrounded  their  brave  opponents. 

The  substantial  result  of  this  magnificent  victory  was  the  capture  of  the  Confed 
erate  General  Wharton  and  some  1,800  officers  and  men,  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery, 
seventeen  battle-flags  and  a  train  of  nearly  two  hundred  wagons  and  ambulances, 


Waynesboro,  Ya.— General  Custer  advanced,  on  March  2,  1865,  from  Staunton  to  Waynesboro,  Va., 
where  he  found  the  enemy,  under  General  Early,  and  engaged  him.  The  result  of  the  battle  was  the 
capture  of  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  the  enemy's  artillery  and  wagon  train,  by  the  Union  forces  ;  and 
the  opening  of  the  roads  for  unresisted  advance  along  the  James  River  and  all  the  roads  and  means  of 
supply  north  of  Richmond. 


including  General  Early's  headquarters  wagon,  containing  all  his  official  papers  and 
records,  1,500  stands  of  small  arms  and  800  team  horses  and  mules. 

It  was  a  battle  where  the  Eighth  New  York  Cavalry,  under  the  gallant  leadership 
of  Major  Hartwell  B.  Compson,  earned  undying  fame.  The  major  himself  performed 
wonderful  feats  of  bravery  and  set  an  example  which  electrified  his  men  and  inspired 
them  to  deeds  of  splendid  heroism.  At  the  head  of  his  troops  who  were  selected  to 


''WITH    A    COLOR-BEARER    ON    ONE 
SIDE  AND  A  BUGLER  ON  THE  OTHER." 

make  the  attack,  he  charged 
down  the  highway  into  Wayiies- 
boro.  The  enemy  had  five  pieces 
of  artillery  in  the  roadway  and 
had  thrown  up  earthworks  on 
each  side  of  the  road  ;  behind 
these  breastworks  infantry  was  posted.  He  was  at  the  head  of  his  command  with  a 
color-bearer  on  one  side  and  a  bugler  on  the  other,  when  they  struck  the  Confederate 
forces  and  a  hand-to-hand  fight  took  place.  Just  then  General  Early  and  his  staff 
moved  down  their  front  to  direct  the  movement  of  the  Confederate  forces. 

Coming  upon  Early's  headquarters  battle-flag  he  ordered  the  bearer  to  surrender. 
A  fierce  fight  at  close  quarters  ensued  and  finally  a  heavy  blow  with  the  sabre  knocked 
his  opponent  from  his  horse  and  the  flag  was  captured. 


—  489  — 


ROBERT  NIVEN, 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  H,  8th 

N.  Y.  Cavalry. 
Highest  rank  attained : 

Captain. 

Born  at  Harlem,  N.  Y., 
December  18, 1833. 


ANDREW  KUDER, 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  G,  8th 

X.  Y.  Cavalry. 
Highest  rank  attained : 

Captain. 

Born  in  South  Livonia, 
New  York,  1838. 


Breaking  through  the  Confederates,  he  moved  his  forces  down  towards  South 
River  and  kept  up  the  charge  until  he  reached  the  bank.  Seeing  that  the  enemy 
were  closing  in  on  his  rear  and  that  his  support  did  not  come  up,  he  crossed  the  river 
and  found  earthworks  thrown  up  on  the  opposite  side  from  which  the  enemy  could 
have  prevented  their  crossing  had  they  occupied  them.  He  at  once  dismounted  his 
men  and  placed  them  in  the  Confederate  earthworks.  Then  when  Custer  pressed 
down  upon  the  rebels  they  were  forced  to  cross  the  river,  where  they  were  ordered 

to    surrender.     The   result   was   that 

when    the    battle    was    over  Colonel 

Compson's  command  alone  had  taken 

800  prisoners  five  pieces  of  artillery, 

1,500  stands  of  small  arms  and  eight 

battle-flags. 

Being  needed  no  longer  at  the  ford, 

Compson,  who  had  noticed  the  enemy 

moving  their  wagon-trains  over  the 

mountains  by  way  of  Rock  Fish  Gap, 

followed  with  his  regiment,  overhauled 

it  and  captured  everything  in  sight. 

It  was  in  this  action  where  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Robert  Niven,  of  Company  H,  of  the 
same  regiment,  had  a  hot  encounter  with  a 
body  of  rebels.  "I  was  ordered  to  pick  out  five  men  from  my  company,"  says 
the  lieutenant,  "to  go  ahead  as  an  advance  guard  and  we  pressed  along  the  narrow, 
hilly  road,  densely  lined  with  woods.  By  this  time  the  atmosphere  was  quite 
foggy.  I  had  gotten  far  in  advance  of  my  comrades  when  suddenly  I  found 
myself  right  in  the  midst  of  a  wagon-train  composed  of  about  ten  wagons  and  a 
dozen  Conf e  derates,  commanded  by  a  lieutenant.  With  a  great  show  of  bravery  I 
ordered  them  to  surrender  and  promised  that  every  one  who  attempted  to  escape 
would  be  shot  on  the  spot.  But  they  saw  that  a  one-man  order  to  twelve  scattered 
men  was  practically  worthless,  when  the  bushes  around  there  offered  such  a  good 
opportunity  to  get  away.  Consequently,  when  the  regiment  came  up  I  had  captured 
not  only  three  or  four  prisoners,  but  also  two  rebel  flags,  ten  army  wagons  with 
mules  attached,  the  lieutenant's  horse,  and  all  of  General  Early's  official  papers." 

Second  Lieutenant  Andrew  Kuder,  First  Sergeant  Charles  A.  Goheen  and  Sergeant 
Daniel  Kelly  of  Company  G,  and  also  Corporal  Henry  H.  Bickford  and  Sergeant 
James  Congdon  as  well  as  Private  John  Miller  of  this  same  regiment,  the  Eighth 
New  York  Cavalry,  were  fortunate  enough  to  capture  rebel  colors  in  this  grand 
melee. 

Rebel  flags  were  also  captured  in  this  battle  by  Privates  Peter  O'Brien  and  Warren 
Carman,  of  the  First  New  York  Cavalry  (Lincoln),  and  Harry  Harvey,  George 
Ladd  and  Michael  Crowley  of  the  Twenty-second  New  York  Cavalry.  All  of  above 
mentioned  were  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


—  490  — 


GALLANT  RESCUE  OF  A  DROWNING  COMRADE 


HENRY  I.  SMITH, 

First  Lieutenant,  Co. 

B,  7th  Iowa  Inf. 
Highest  rankatt'ned: 

Captain. 

Born  in  Nottingham, 
Eng.,May  4, 1840. 


A  FTER  the  defeat  of  Hardee  at  Averysboro,  and  just  before 
**  Johnston  made  his  futile  attack  at  Bentonville,  the 
Fifteenth  Corps,  General  John  A.  Logan  commander,  found 
its  advance  contested  by  the  Confederates  at  Black  River, 
some  fifteen  or  eighteen  miles  south  of  Bentonville.  The 
enemy  having  possession  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
General  Rice  ordered  one  regiment  to  proceed  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  above  and  effect  a  crossing,  and  three 
companies  from  another  regiment  a  half  mile  down  the 
river  to  make  a  demonstration.  At  that  time  Lieutenant 
Henry  I.  Smith,  of  Company  B,  Seventh  Iowa  Infantry,  was 
aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General  Elliott  W. 
Rice,  in  command  of  the  First  Brigade  of  the  Fourth  Division 
of  Logan's  Corps.  Lieutenant  Smith  gives  the  details  of 
service  he  rendered  on  this  occasion  as  follows : 

"  Our  progress  being  retarded  by  the  presence  of  the  enemy  at  Black  River,  N.  C., 
on  the  15th  of  March,  1865, 1  was  directed  to  proceed  with  a  regiment  and  pontoons, 
while  our  corps  was  engaging  the  Confederates  at  the  bridge,  which  had  been  partly 
destroyed,  farther  up  the  stream  and  effect  a  crossing.  Normally  the  river  is 
only  a  narrow  stream,  but  because  of  the  spring  freshets  it  was  at  this  time 
swollen  to  a  torrent,  very  rapid,  and  away  beyond  its  banks  until  it  was  at  least  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  wide.  Proceeding  up  stream  a  considerable  distance,  we  began 
laying  our  pontoon  bridge,  when  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  with  one  piece  of  artil 
lery  located  in  the  woods  on  the  opposite  shore  opened  on  us.  However,  the  men 
of  the  regiment  put  down  the  bridge  under  a  hot  fire  of  musketry  across  the  stream 
proper — about  one  hundred  feet  wide  at  this  point — and  by  wading  waist  deep  in 
the  ice-cold  water  and  stumbling  and  crawling  over  entanglements  of  underbrush 
and  cypress  trees  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  they  at  last  effected  a  crossing  and 
drove  the  enemy  back.  During  the  progress  of  this  crossing  one  of  my  command  in 
stepping  from  the  pontoon  bridge  into  the  water  was  caught  by  the  torrent  and 
swept  down  stream.  Seeing  the  mishap,  I  threw  off  my  sword  and  coat  and  jumped 
after  the  man.  Presently  I  reached  him,  and  getting  a  good  grip  upon  his  almost 
lifeless  form  I  at  last  succeeded  in  swimming  with  him  near  enough  to  shore  for 
others  to  come  to  our  assistance  and  drag  us  both  out  of  the  flood  more  dead  than 
alive.  Of  course,  the  entire  incident  occurred  under  fire,  but  luckily  neither  one  of 
us  was  hit  and  we  recovered  sufficiently  to  take  part  in  the  holding  of  the  position 
gained  by  the  regiment,  wearing  our  wet,  icy  clothes  throughout,  until  morning, 
when  the  entire  army  began  to  make  the  crossing." 


—  491  — 


GEORGE  W.  CLUTE. 

Corporal,  Co.  1, 14th  Michigan  Inf. 

Bom  in  Marathon.  Mick., 

June  11, 1842. 


IF  General  Johnston  had  succeeded  at  Bentonville,  N.  C., 
1  March  19,  1865,  he  would  to-day  be  mentioned  among 
the  greatest  generals  of  all  nations  and  ages.  Early  in 
the  morning  he  addressed  his  troops.  What  he  said  was 
something  like  this :  "I  have  about  me  here  40,000  brave 
and  gallant  troops.  Shall  we  permit  the  Yankees  to  make 
further  progress  ?  No.  Their  army  must  and  shall  be 
stopped  here.  They  are  marching  upon  us  by  four  different 
roads.  We  shall  fall  upon  one  column  after  the  other  and 
annihilate  each  separately." 

This  plan  failed.    The  Confederate  generals  had  forgot 
ten  to  reckon  with  the  bravery  of  the  Union  soldiers. 

The  first  column  attacked  by  Johnston  was  the  Four 
teenth  Army  Corps.  At  first  he  gained  a  temporary  success,  forcing  the  Federals  to 
fall  back  and  capturing  three  guns.  Then  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  and  General 
Kilpatrick  were  hurried  upon  the  field,  and  not  only  was  the  further  advance  of  the 
rebels  checked,  but  the  Union  lines  were  re-established  in  their  original  position. 
All  day  long  Johnston  made  a  most  stubborn  effort  to  break  the  Union  center.  Six 
charges,  one  after  the  other  in  rapid  succession,  were  made  at  the  same  point,  and 
on  the  same  men,  and  six  times  the  enemy  were  beaten  off  with  equal  determination. 

General  Kilpatrick  was  full  of  admiration  for  the  pluck 
and  gallantry  of  his  men  when  darkness  ended  further 
fighting.  General  Johnston,  discouraged,  disappointed, 
disheartened,  withdrew.  His  fondest  hopes  had  come  to 
naught. 

In  this  battle  two  of  Michigan's  soldiers,  Corporal  George 
W.  Clute  of  Company  I,  and  Private  Henry  E.  Plant  of 
Company  F,  both  of  the  Fourteenth  Michigan  Infantry, 
distinguished  themselves  as  heroes. 

The  regiment  had  been  ordered  to  the  front  on  a  double- 
quick  and  upon  its  arrival  found  the  cavalry  fighting  the 
rebels  in  a  large  pine  swamp.  It  was  here  that  the  six  suc 
cessive  charges  were  made  by  the  enemy.  The  last  charge 
was  an  especially  severe  one.  It  came  to  a  hand-to-hand 
"In  the  midst  of  the  struggle,"  says  Clute  in  describing  it,  "I  saw  a  Confederate 


HENRY  E.  PLANT, 

Private,  Co.  F,  14th  Michigan  Inf. 
Born  in  Oswego,  Now  York, 
October  11, 1841.     . 


fight. 


From  Savannah  to  Bentonville.— As  General  Sherman  and  his  army  marched  north  from  Savannah  to 
Goldsboro,  his  opposition  consisted  of  37,000  infantry  and  8,000  cavalry  under  General  Johnston,  and  Gen 
eral  Hood  with  10,000  infantry  and  a  division  of  cavalry.  At  Averysboro,  Hardee's  army  was  repulsed  with 
a  loss  of  500  men.  At  Bentonville  Johnston's  army  attacked  General  Slocum's  wing  of  the  Federal  forces 
and  a  three  days'  fight  ensued,  resulting  in  the  falling  back  of  the  Confederate  force,  after  a  loss  of  2,825 
killed  and  wounded  and  1,641  taken  prisoners.  The  Federal  loss  was  1,646  killed  and  wounded. 


—  492  — 


flag  and  made  a  rush  for  it.  It  was  in  the  hands  of  their  lieutenant.  He  and  I  were 
out  of  ammunition.  Nothing  but  a  trial  of  strength  could  determine  which  one  of  us 
was  entitled  to  those  colors.  We  had  a  desperate  fight,  but  I  proved  to  be  the 
stronger  and  dragged  color-bearer  and  flag  along  for  over  100  feet  before  he  let  go 
of  the  staff  and  ran  back  to  his  lines.  Carrying  the  captured  colors  aloft  I  ran  to 
my  company,  the  men  of  which  were  fighting  with  clubbed  muskets. 

"  When  my  captain  caught  sight  of  me  and  my  trophy  he  said : 

'"Why  didn't  you  kill  that  rebel  ? ' 

" '  Because  I  had  no  ammunition,'  I  replied. 

"While  I  was  still  talking  with  the  captain,  our  own  men,  whose  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  Confederate  flag  which  I  held  in  a  raised  position,  began  firing  at 
us,  and  I  was  ordered  to  quickly  drop  the  flag.  I  dragged  it  behind  me  along  the 
ground  and  was  just  about  to  join  my  fighting  comrades  a  few  feet  in  front  of  me 
when  I  once  more  caught  sight  of  the  Confederate  lieutenant  from  whom  I  had 
wrenched  the  colors.  As  his  eyes  fell  upon  me  he  quick  as  a  flash  took  aim  with 
his  revolver  and  fired  at  me,  the  ball  entering  my  right  arm.  Then  he,  with  like 
suddenness,  disappeared." 

Private  Plant  was  no  less  plucky.  The  sergeant  and  color-guard  had  been  shot 
down  in  the  same  charge  and  a  yawning  gap  was  left  on  either  side  of  the  colors. 
Plant  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance.  He  ran  toward  the  colors,  seized  the  flag 
from  the  hand  of  the  wounded  standard-bearer  and  waved  it,  cheering  on  his  com 
rades  to  more  determined  resistance.  When  the  rebels  were  at  last  repulsed  Plant 
was  promoted  sergeant  and  color-bearer  and  carried  the  flag  he  had  so  gallantly 
defended  to  the  end  of  the  war. 


OVERWHELMED  BY  SHERMAN'S  KINDNESS 


A1 


N  ORDERLY  appeared  in  the  bivouac  of  the  Thirty-first 
Wisconsin  Infantry,  after  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  N. 
C.,  had  been  fought,  March  19, 1865. 

"  Is  Private  Peter  T.  Anderson  of  Company  B  present  ? " 
he  inquired.  Private  Anderson  stepped  forward.  ''You're 
wanted  at  General  Sherman's  headquarters,"  the  orderly 
stated  and  started  back  followed  by  the  private,  who  trem 
bled  in  anticipation  of  his  fate.  What  could  the  general 
possibly  want  of  him  ?  Had  somebody  told  that  he  had 
left  for  the  rear  the  day  before?  Was  he  to  be  punished, 
reprimanded,  rebuked  ?  He  reviewed  his  whole  army  life, 
scrutinized  every  act ;  he  knew  of  no  wrong  that  demanded 
punishment.  He  inquired  of  the  orderly,  begged  him  to  tell 
what  the  general  wanted,  but  this  individual  was  annoyingly  short  of  speech  and 


PETER    T.  ANDERSON, 

Private,  Co.  B.  31st  Wis.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attned  :    Capt. 

Born  in  Lafayette  Co.,  AVis., 

Sept.  4,1847. 


—493  — 

would  not  or  could  not  give  the  slightest  hint.  Finally  headquarters  was  reached. 
As  Anderson  saluted  General  Sherman  rose  from  his  camp  stool  and  with  that  genial 
manner  so  characteristic  of  the  great  American  leader  offered  it  to  the  humble 
soldier. 

This  unexpected  reception  bewildered  and  embarrassed  the  private  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  completely  lost  his  composure.  He  mechanically  followed  the 
general's  polite  invitation  and  sat  down  on  the  camp  stool — allowing  the  commander 
to  stand  up  before  him.  The  ludicrousness  of  the  situation  never  dawned  upon  the 
good  Wisconsinite  at  the  time. 

"Well,  Anderson,"  said  the  general,  "I  am  proud  of  you !" 

He  said  a  great  many  more  things  equally  as  nattering  and  pleasing,  and  ended 
by  grasping  the  soldier's  hand  and  assuring  him  that  his  services  would  be  rewarded 
soon  in  a  more  substantial  manner.  And  thus  was  the  private,  highly  honored  and 
highly  elated,  dismissed  by  the  general. 

What  were  these  services  ? 

Private  Anderson's  own  modest  version  is  as  follows : 

"It  was  at  Waynesboro,  N.  C.,  March  16,  1865.  The  Confederates  held  a  strong 
position.  My  company,  with  others,  was  deployed  to  oppose  and  divert  them  from 
our  lines. 

"  Owing  to  heavy  rains  the  day  before  the  ground  was  muddy.  As  we  advanced 
we  came  to  a  deep  depression,  filled  with  water  four  or  five  inches  deep.  Across 
this  pond  and  about  200  feet  from  us  were  a  lot  of  logs  piled  up.  Suddenly  and 
without  a  warning,  as  we  reached  the  water,  a  volley  was  fired  on  us  by  a  number 
of  rebels  lying  in  ambush  behind  the  logs.  It  wrought  havoc  in  our  ranks.  Our 
situation  was  critical.  If  we  remained  where  we  were  we  would  all  be  mowed  down 
by  the  next  volley.  Yet  there  was  no  time  to  retreat.  Our  men  and  officers  were 
badly  scattered.  There  was  no  officer  to  command  us,  and  but  one  way  out  of  the 
difficulty.  I  shouted  to  the  boys :  '  Forward  ! '  The  order  was  obeyed.  Before  the 
rebels  had  time  to  reload  we  were  pointing  our  guns  at  them  over  the  logs  and 
demanded  their  surrender.  They  complied.  Their  number  was  about  seventy-five, 
while  we  were  not  more  than  thirty.  This  action  was  witnessed  from  the  rear  by 
several  of  our  officers,  General  Sherman  among  them.  We  brought  the  prisoners  to 
our  camp. 

"  Three  days  later,  at  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  I  took  sick  and  was  told  to  get 
into  an  ambulance.  I  preferred  the  ranks.  Our  brigade,  composed  of  three  regiments, 
took  position  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  to  the  left  of  the  pike  and  to  the  left  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps,  leaving  quite  a  gap  between  us.  We  had  just  begun  felling  trees 
and  making  a  breastwork  of  them  when  the  rebels  attacked  us  across  an  open  field. 
They  swung  around  on  both  flanks,  practically  surrounding  us.  We  were  forced 
to  retreat. 

"I  was  provoked  at  our  retreat,  because  I  could  not  see  the  rebels  advancing  on 
the  sides,  but  noticed  only  their  line  in  front.  It  did  not  take  long,  however,  before 


—  494  — 


I  fully  comprehended  the  situation.  As  we  fell  back  to  the  turnpike  we  left  the 
Nineteenth  Indiana  battery  behind.  Someone  shouted :  'For  God's  sake,  bring  out 
that  battery ! '  I  turned  to  a  comrade  and  asked  him  to  come  with  me  and  attempt 
to  save  the  battery.  He  refused.  I  went  back  to  the  battery  without  any  assistance. 
It  was  all  limbered  up,  the  horses  hitched  and  ready  to  be  moved.  Turning  the 
horses  of  one  gun  into  the  road,  using  my  ramrod  for  a  whip,  I  started  them  after 
our  retreating  ranks.  I  tried  to  mount  one  of  the  horses,  but  the  stirrup  was  shot 
off  just  as  I  put  my  foot  in  it  and  I  was  obliged  to  follow  along  behind.  The  distance 
to  our  lines  was  from  one-third  to  half  a  mile,  and  all  this  way  I  was  under  a  hot 
rebel  fire  from  both  sides.  At  one  time  the  rebels  were  on  all  sides  of  me  and  de 
manding  my  surrender.  I  had  previously  fired  my  gun  and  was  now  trying  to 
reload.  I  had  nearly  succeeded  when  a  shot  struck  the  barrel  and  broke  it  in  the 
middle.  The  same  shot  knocked  off  the  tip  of  my  right  forefinger.  I  raised  my 
musket  and  blazed  away,  sending  ramrod  and  all  into  the  rebels.  An  officer  rode 
up  close  to  me,  pointed  his  revolver  at  my  head  and  shouted :  '  Surrender,  you 
damned  Yankee ! '  A  shot  from  some  quarter  killed  him  outright  the  next  moment. 
I  finally  reached  my  regiment  which,  observing  my  predicament,  had  taken  a  stand 
waiting  for  me  to  come  up.  Passing  our  rallied  line  I  transferred  the  rescued  field- 
piece  to  the  care  of  a  chief  of  artillery  who  came  to  meet  me  and  then  went  to  the 
rear,  secured  another  gun  and  returned  to  take  a  hancf  in  the  next  charge  of  the 
rebels." 

The  reward  promised  by  General  Sherman  came  within  less  than  three  months : 
Anderson  received  a  captain's  commission  and  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


A  PICTURESQUE  feature  of  General  Sherman's  army  during 
-**•  the  grand  tour  from  Savannah  to  Richmond  was  the 
rear  guard  with  its  foraging  detachments  and  refugee 
train.  So  great  were  the  additions  of  refugee  negroes  that 
at  times  the  marching  columns  in  the  rear  had  the  appear 
ance  of  a  huge  army,  which  they  were,  except  that  a  large 
majority  of  the  refugees  were  unarmed.  Whole  families 
of  negroes,  afoot,  riding  mules,  horses  and  cattle,  trundling 
barrows  and  drawing  carts  and  wagons,  followed  the  Union 
troops.  To  protect  this  large  train  from  the  almost  con 
tinuous  petty  assaults  made  by  small  bodies  of  Confeder 
ate  cavalry  and  occasional  detachments  of  bushwhackers 
was  the  hazardous  duty  of  the  rear  guard  commanded  by 

General  Porter  and  to  which  was  attached  the  One  hundred  and  seventh  Ohio  In 
fantry.     The  work  required  was  done,  very  largely,  in  small  detachments  in  advance, 


H.  S.  FINKENBEINER. 

Private,  Co.  D,  107th  Ohio  Inf. 

Born  at  North  Industry, 

Ohio,  July  29, 1849. 


—  495  — 

on  either  flank  and  to  the  rear  of  its  own  main  column,  so  that  individual  actions 
involving  these  smaller  bodies  were  almost  everyday  happenings.  On  the  23d  of 
March,  however,  while  Sherman's  main  army  was  bitterly  engaged  at  Bentonville, 
N.  C.,  General  Porter's  troops  encountered  a  force  of  Confederates  at  Dingley's  Mill, 
near  Sumterville,  S.  C.  The  Confederates  had  fired  the  wooden  bridge  across  the 


"WE  PICKED  BROBST   UP  AND   PLACED   HIM   ON   MY   RIFLE   BETWEEN    US." 

mill  race  to  prevent  or  check  his  attack,  and  evidently  had  good  and  commanding 
positions  on  their  side  of  the  race. 

General  Porter,  thinking  that  the  Confederates  had  evacuated,  ordered  Colonel 
Houghton,  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Ohio,  to  come  down  from  the  road,  which  was  high 
and  acted  as  a  dam  to  the  mill  pond  on  one  side.  Colonel  John  S.  Cooper,  of  the 
One  hundred  and  seventh  Ohio  Volunteers,  feeling  sure  that  the  enemy  were  still  in 


—  496  — 

hiding  across  the  race,  called  for  volunteers  to  cross  the  burning  bridge  and  recon- 
noiter  the  enemy's  position.  Private  H.  S.  Finkenbeiner,  of  Company  D,  who, 
accompanied  by  Jacob  James  and  Jacob  Brobst,  volunteered  for  this  service,  tells  of 
the  affair  as  follows  : 

"We  received  orders  to  accomplish  the  mission  and  report  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  enemy's  battery  was  masked  on  a  little  knoll  that  commanded  the  entire  road, 
and  as  we  crossed  at  a  point  about  ninety  yards  from  the  bridge  they  could  plainly 
see  every  move  we  made,  while  they  were  hidden  from  our  view.  The  support  of 
this  masked  battery  lay  still  nearer  the  bridge  in  a  thicket  on  the  right  side  of  our 
advance. 

"We  cautiously  went  forward,  passed  the  burning  mill,  and,  reaching  a  place 
where  the  road  makes  a  turn  towards  Sumterville,  we  saw  the  enemy  for  the  first 
time.  Instead  of  creeping  back  and  reporting,  we  took  a  shot  at  them  and  then  ran 
for  the  bridge. 

"  To  our  great  surprise,  we  then  found  ourselves  between  the  enemy's  battery 
and  their  reserve.  A  shot  of  grape  and  canister  but  twenty  yards  from  this  turn 
was  sent  to  intercept  our  run,  but  we  were  too  near  and  it  flew  wide  of  its  mark. 
The  next  instant  the  support  just  in  front  and  to  our  right  opened  fire  on  us.  Their 
second  aim  was  better,  or  worse  for  us,  for  Brobst  fell.  His  cry,  '  Don't  for  God's 
sake  let  the  rebels  get  me,'  brought  us  to  a  stop  in  our  headlong  rush  for  safety,  and 
we  returned  to  our  fallen  comrade. 

"  By  this  time  they  had  our  range  and  were  shooting  uncomfortably  close  to  us. 
We  picked  Brobst  up  and  placed  him  on  my  rifle  between  us,  thus  carrying  him  in 
safety  over  the  burning  bridge  to  an  ambulance  corps  in  the  woods,  in  the  rear  of 
our  army. 

"Just  then  wre  saw  General  Houghton  come  down  the  narrow  road  and  file  out. 
Knowing  the  terrible  situation  he  would  get  into,  I  hurried  to  report  our  discovery 
to  General  Porter,  and  an  orderly  was  sent  forward  at  once  to  recall  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Ohio,  which  would  certainly  have  fared  badly  had  they  advanced." 


—  497  — 


LIEUTENANT,  WHAT  SAY   YOU?" 


JOSEPH  F.  CARTER, 


Captain,  Co.  D,  Third  Maryland  Infantry. 
Highest  rank  attained  :  Major. 
Born  in  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
Sept,  11, 1842. 


FORT  STEDMAN,  Va.,  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  who  cunningly  had  taken  advantage  of 
the  order  allowing  deserters  to  bring  in  their  arms.  In 
the  disguise  of  such  deserters  they  had  approached  the 
Union  picket  lines  in  small  squads,  overpowered  and 
captured  the  pickets  and  gained  access  to  the  works 
without  any  alarm  being  given.  General  N.  B.  Mc- 
Laughlin  and  nearly  the  entire  garrison,  sixteen  officers 
and  480  men,  were  captured  just  before  daybreak  March 
25, 1865,  the  darkness  materially  aiding  the  Confederates 
in  their  bold  and  tricky  move. 

With  the  break  of  day  the  occurrence  revealed  itself 
to  the  Federal  commanders  operating  in  the  vicinity 
and  determined  efforts  to  recapture  the  fort  were  made 
immediately.  The  Third  Maryland  Infantry  met  large 
detachments  of  the  enemy,  sent  to  capture  the  adjoin 
ing  Fort  Haskell  (see  page  388),  and  drove  them  back  into  Fort  Stedman,  passing 
the  gate  and  forcing  the  Confederates  to  retreat  into  the  camp,  from  which  they 
themselves  had  only  shortly  before  driven  the  One  hundredth  Pennsylvania.  The 
entrance  to  the  fort,  however,  had  been  gained  and  the  Pennsylvania  boys  now 
hurried  to  the  support  of  their  gallant  comrades  from  Maryland.  It  was  decided  to 
follow  up  the  enemy  and  charge  the  fort.  This  was  done  so  successfully  by  an 
attack  from  two  sides  that  within  a  short  time  the  Federals  were  once  more  masters 
of  the  stronghold,  capturing  nearly  the  entire  Confederate  force.  An  occurrence 
that  followed  is  the  subject  of  an  interesting  story  told  by  Captain  Joseph  F.  Carter 
of  Company  D,  Third  Maryland  Infantry.  The  captain  was  in  command  of  his 
regiment  on  the  expedition  to  recapture  the  fort,  while  the  One  hundredth  Penn 
sylvania  was  led  by  Major  N.  J.  Maxwell : 

"Seeing  that  Major  Maxwell  was  in  control  of  the  fort,"  says  Carter,  "I  moved 
out  to  intercept  the  retreat  of  the  rebels,  who  had  advanced  to  our  newly  built  rail 
road  leading  to  City  Point  and  were  thus  between  our  lines.  Somehow  or  other  my 
men,  who  were  busy  in  gathering  up  prisoners  outside  the  fort,  became  separated  from 
me.  I  did  not  notice  their  absence,  but  kept  right  on,  until  I  came  to  a  cut  in  the  road 


Fort  Stedman.— Early  on  the  morning  of  March  25,  1865,  the  Confederate  forces  under  General  Gordon 
assaulted  the  Federal  lines  in  front  of  Parke's  Ninth  Corps,  which  held  the  Appomattox  River  toward  the 
Union  left,  and  carried  Fort  Stedman  and  a  part  of  the  line  to  the  right  and  left  of  it,  turning  the  guns  of 
the  fort  against  the  Federals.  But  the  Union  troops  on  either  flank  held  their  ground  until  reserves  were 
brought  up,  when  the  Confederates  were  driven  back  to  their  lines. 

The  losses  sustained  by  the  Ninth  Corps  were  68  killed,  337  wounded  and  506  missing,  while  those  SUB- 
tained  by  the  Confederates  were  2,681,  among  whom  were  1,900  prisoners. 


—  498  — 

leading  into  Petersburg,  with  banks  about  ten  feet  high.  Here,  to  my  surprise,  1 
found  a  rebel  regiment  which  had  selected  this  place  for  shelter  from  the  heavy  fire 
of  our  artillery  stationed  in  the  rear  of  our  main  line.  They  had  been  sent  to  the 
rear  of  Fort  Stedman  to  seize  the  railroad  and  there  received  orders  to  retire,  but 
were  confused  and  waited  for  further  orders.  The  recapture  of  Fort  Stedman  by 
our  troops  had  cut  off  the  retreat  to  their  own  lines.  There  were  about  three  hun 
dred  of  them  just  filing  into  the  road  getting  ready  to  stay  the  advance  of  our  skir 
mishers  who  were  following  up  their  retreat,  when  I  appeared  on  the  bank  and 
shouted  to  the  greatly  surprised  Confederates  on  the  road  below  to  surrender.  A 
captain  in  command  retorted : 

" '  Who  in  hell  are  you  ? ' 

'"A  Yank,'  I  answered,  adding  quickly  that  we  had  recaptured  Fort  Stedman, 
were  complete  masters  of  the  situation  and  that  he  could  not  possibly  get  back  with 
his  men  to  his  lines.  The  rebel  captain,  however,  who  evidently  had  no  knowledge 
of  this  fact,  did  not  propose  to  give  in  so  easily.  'Well,'  he  remarked,  'where  are 
your  men  ? ' 

"Then  came  a  surprise  on  my  side.  Looking  back  of  me  I  made  the  embarrassing 
discovery  that  I  was  alone.  Surely  this  was  a  tight  fix  to  be  in,  but  there  was  no 
other  way  out  of  it  except  by  strong  argument  and  explanation.  While  conversing 
with  the  captain,  who  seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  I  caught  sight  of  one  of  our 
staff  officers,  about  200  yards  away,  signaling  to  our  batteries  to  cease  firing  on  Fort 
Stedman,  which  was  now  occupied  by  our  troops. 

"Pointing  at  him  I  continued  : 

"'Captain,  see  that  staff  officer?  He  is  ordering  the  firing  to  be  stopped.  The 
whole  country  around  here  is  in  our  possession.  It's  no  use,  you  can't  get  away.' 

"  That  satisfied  him  and  he  surrendered.  He  asked  me  what  he  should  do  and  I 
told  him  to  march  his  men  off  by  the  right  flank  down  the  road  to  our  rear,  intend 
ing  to  bring  the  whole  regiment  to  our  camp  alone,  but  when  the  rebel  column 
emerged  from  the  cut  and  thus  became  exposed,  our  troops  renewed  their  fire  and 
threatened  death  and  destruction  to  my  so  willing  and  obedient  prisoners.  I  there 
fore  directed  the  captain  and  his  men  to  throw  down  their  guns  and  remain  in  the 
cut  until  our  men  would  come  up  and  take  them. 

"  Again  they  followed  out  my  instructions.  I  then  signaled  to  our  men  to  cease 
their  fire  and  come  up,  but  was  not  understood,  and,  being  the  only  one  exposed, 
became  the  target  for  a  lot  of  General  Hartranft's  raw  recruits.  I  cannot  say  that 
I  enjoyed  that  part  very  much,  and  not  experiencing  any  desire  to  be  shot  down  by 
our  own  troops,  I  descended  into  the  cut  and  joined  the  rebels.  The  captain  was  an 
agreeable  person  to  chat  with,  and  we  conversed  about  his  future  prospects  as  a 
prisoner,  when  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a  rebel  flag  a  short  distance  away.  A 
lieutenant  and  color-guard  of  six  men  were  moving  along  the  bank  trying  to  make 
their  escape.  I  broke  off  my  conversation  abruptly  and  started  after  them,  picking 
up  a  loaded  gun  on  the  way. 


—  499  — 

"  Before  the  lieutenant  realized  what  was  happening  he  had  the  rifle  placed 
against  his  breast  and  was  commanded  to  surrender  the  flag  he  was  carrying. 

"  The  lieutenant  was  game  and  promptly  replied  :  '  I'll  be  damned  if  I'll  give  you 
that  flag  !  And  furthermore  I  want  to  tell  you  that  you  are  my  prisoner.  Give  me 
your  gun/  and  at  the  same  time  the  color-guard  raised  their  guns  and  made  a  most 
expressive  show  of  resistance. 

"Here  I  was  in  a  pretty  mess.  The  rebel  guns  were  raised  at  my  head.  If  I 
pulled  my  trigger  I  would  sound  my  own  death-knell.  Surrounded  by  rebels,  be 
yond  the  help  of  my  own  troops,  it  would  have  been  folly  to  carry  the  bluff  farther, 
so  I  made  a  virtue  out  of  necessity  and  handed  the  lieutenant  my  gun. 

"  And  thus  I,  who  only  a  few  minutes  ago  had  captured  a  whole  regiment,  was 
made  a  prisoner  myself.  All  my  arguing  as  to  him  and  his  men  being  cut  off  brought 
only  the  curt  reply,  '  Come  along,  we'll  see.' 

"  Taking  me  in  their  midst  the  lieutenant  and  guard  moved  across  the  open  field 
in  the  direction  of  our  works,  thinking  them  their  own  lines.  Immediately  our 
batteries  opened  on  us  with  at  least  twenty  guns  with  spherical  case  shell,  which 
tore  up  the  ground  all  around  us.  There  was  a  great  chance  of  me  losing  my  game 
if  the  lieutenant  saw  fit  to  change  his  course  and  pass  around  our  works,  as  it  almost 
seemed  he  would.  Visions  of  Libby  prison  with  all  its  horrors  looming  up  before 
my  eye  determined  me  to  make  a  break  and  at  least  give  the  rebels  a  run.  But 
the  guard  was  on  to  my  intention  and  one  of  them  yelled  at  me  :  '  You  damned 
Yank,  you  try  to  run  and  we'll  blow  you  to  hell.'  So  I  gave  up  the  attempt 
to  escape.  Presently  I  noticed  three  soldiers  in  blue  about  sixty  yards  away  from 
us.  I  recognized  them  to  be  men  of  the  One  hundredth  Pennsylvania  and  yelled 
as  loud  as  I  could :  '  Boys,  I  am  a  prisoner  here ! '  They  came  toward  us  on  a 
run.  'All  right,  Captain,'  one  of  them  spoke  up,  'we'll  save  you.'  Turning  to  the 
lieutenant  he  continued  :  '  Lieutenant,  what  say  you  now  ?  I  guess  the  tables  are 
turned.  You  are  our  prisoner.' 

"  The  rebel  officer  made  no  long  reply,  but  merely  said  :     '  I  surrender.' 

"  I  now  quickly  seized  the  colors  and  turned  my  attention  to  the  rebel  regiment 
in  the  ravine.  Waving  the  flag  to  signal  our  men  to  cease  firing,  however,  had 
the  result  of  increasing  it,  so  much  so  that  the  rebel  color-guard  advised  me  to 
drop  the  flag.  I  tried  another  method.  Throwing  down  the  flag,  I  trampled  upon 
it  and  waved  my  sword  over  my  head.  This  had  the  desired  effect.  Our  men 
rested  their  guns,  but  on  the  other  hand  my  action  had  been  watched  by  the  Con 
federates  from  their  works  about  200  yards  away.  Incensed  at  the  indignity  to  their 
colors  they  poured  a  most  terrific  fire  in  our  direction,  rendering  our  position  as 
critical  as  before.  I  finally  picked  up  the  colors  from  the  ground  and  started  on  a 
dead  run  with  my  prisoners  for  our  works,  being  forced  to  go  for  sixty  yards  towards 
the  enemy,  and  expose  myself  to  their  concentrated  fire,  before  I  reached  the  cover 
of  our  own  works.  The  rebel  regiment  was  shortly  afterward  brought  in  as  prison 
ers  by  Hartranft's  men." 


•500- 


HEROISM  IN  THE   HOUR  OF   REVERSE 


WILLIAM  H.  HOWE, 

Sergeant,  Co.  K,  29th  Mass.  Inf. 

Born  at  Haverhill,  Mass.. 

April  10, 1837. 


CHARLES  H.  PINKHAM, 

8ergeant-Major,57th  Mass.  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attained: 

Brev.-Capt.,U.S.V. 

Born  at  Grafton,  Mass., 

August  18, 1844. 


'""THE  fighting  at  Fort  Stedman 
*  brought  out  many  examples  of 
great  individual  bravery  and  fur 
nished  numerous  incidents  which 
prove  the  pluck  and  indomitable 
courage  of  the  Union  soldier,  no 
matter  whether  he  was  in  a  victori 
ous  battle  or  facing  defeat.  At  Fort 
Stedman  particularly,  where  the 
Federals  were  treated  to  a  surprise 
by  the  enemy,  their  conduct  was 
such  as  to  force  even  the  foe  to 
admire  it. 

It  is  recorded,  for  instance,  that 
one  private  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Massachusetts  Infantry  was  surrounded  by  a  group 
of  rebels,  seized  by  the  throat  and  ordered  to  surrender.  His  reply  was:  "Never." 
Whereupon  he  was  clubbed  over  the  back  with  a  musket  and  shot  in  the  head,  but 
in  spite  of  his  injuries  fought  with  his  opponent,  and  escaped. 

Other  brave  deeds  were  those  of  Sergeant-Major  Charles  H.  Pinkham,  of  the  Fifty- 
seventh  Massachusetts  Infantry,  and  Sergeant  William  H.  Howe,  of  Company  K, 
Twenty-ninth  Massachusetts  Infantry.  Howe's  regiment  was  in  camp  within  the 
works  when  the  Confederates  entered  and  surprised  them.  No  shots  were  fired,  the 
Confederates  using  only  the  butts  of  their  muskets.  The  regiment  was  forced  to 
retreat,  leaving  a  great  number  of  its  men  in  the  hands  of  the  victorious  rebels. 
When  the  Federals  were  already  driven  out  of  their  works  and  the  rebels  in  full 
possession  of  the  camp  Sergeant-Major  Pinkham  rushed  back  into  the  very  midst  of 
the  enemy,  entered  a  tent,  seized  the  regimental  colors,  and  dashed  back  with  his 
precious  treasure  to  his  own  lines.  During  the  subsequent  fighting  for  the  recapture 
of  the  camp,  which  ended  in  an  utter  rout  of  the  rebels,  Sergeant-Major  Pinkham 
had  a  chance  to  seize  the  colors  of  the  Fifty-seventh  North  Carolina  Infantry  and 
carried  them  triumphantly  into  the  Union  lines. 

Sergeant  Howe  was  one  of  the  Union  soldiers  who  was  captured  when  the  rebels 
took  possession  of  the  fort.  He  managed  to  escape  his  guard,  however,  and  rejoined 
his  comrades  in  front  of  Fort  Haskell.  When  volunteers  were  called  for  to  serve  an 
abandoned  gun,  he  with  five  others  undertook  to  perform  the  work.  They  were  ex 
posed  to  a  most  galling  fire,  but  he  worked  the  gun  with  such  telling  effect  after  all 
but  two  of  the  battery  men  belonging  to  the  piece  were  killed  that  the  Confederates 
were  forced  to  retreat  before  its  withering  fire,  allowing  the  Federals  to  come  up 
to  the  support  of  the  brave  volunteer  gunner. 


—  501  — 


DUTY  AND  DEATH  RATHER  THAN  DISHONOR 


A 


ALLEN  THOMPSON, 

Private,  Co.  K,  4th  New  York 

Heavy  Artillery. 

Born  at  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego 

Co.,N.Y.,  Oct.  1,1847. 


T  THE  time  Grant  was  bending  every 
energy  and  all  resources  to  hold 
Lee's  army  in  check  and  all  military  oper 
ations  centered  around  the  Appomattox 
campaign,  the  Fourth  New  York  Heavy 
Artillery  was  serving  as  infantry,  being 
attached  to  what  was  called  the  "Irish" 
Brigade,  First  Division  Second  Corps,  the 
division  commander  being  General  Nelson 
A.  Miles.  Corps  organizations  were  broken 
up,  and  all  around  Petersburg  to  the  west 
and  south,  over  a  radius  of  thirty  miles, 


TV 
•+HO* 

JAMES  THOMPSON, 

Private,  Co.K,  4th  New  York 

Heavy  Artillery. 

Born  at  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego 

Co.,N.  Y.,  Dee.  25, 1849. 


the  Federal  troops  were  fighting  by  bri 
gades  in  separate  actions.     Yet,  so  able  were  regimental,  brigade,  division  and  corps 
commanders,  so  thoroughly  did  the  rank  and  file  understand  the  situation,  that 
together  these  individual  actions  revolved  around  and  were  practically  parts  of  the 
great  combat  of  the  Appomattox,  the  Battle  of  Five  Forks. 

On  the  morning  of  April  2d,  Miles,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  arrived  at  White 
Oak  Road.  With  the  determination  to  bring  the  rebels  to  a  standstill  he  pushed 
his  brigade  in  line  of  battle  towards  their  works,  resolved  to  carry  them.  The  works 
were  in  plain  view,  but  not  a  man  was  in  sight,  not  a  rifle  cracked  to  break  the 
silence  of  the  early  morning.  The  brigade  halted,  suspicious  of  a  trap  or  an  ambush. 
The  deserted  look  of  the  works  appeared  unnatural,  the  very  silence  seemed  to  call 
for  caution.  All  eyes  were  turned  towards  the  works,  every  man  in  the  brigade  was 
full  of  anxiety  to  know  the  secret  they  concealed. 

General  Miles  observed  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  call  for  volunteers  to  take 
the  lead,  advance  through  the  woods  and  ascertain  the  situation.  This  call  was 


Final  Operations  Around  Petersburg,  Va.  —When  Grant  went  into  winter  quarters  before  Petersburg  he 
had  determined  to  resume  his  campaign  against  Lee  on  the  29th  of  March,  1865. 

The  heavy  rains,  however,  prevented  active  operations  until  the  2d  of  April,  when  the  general  assault 
commenced  and  was  pursued  along  Grant's  whole  line,  which  extended  from  Appomattox  to  Dinwiddie 
Court  House.  The  day  preceding  Lee  was  defeated  at  Five  Forks,  where  Sheridan  gained  a  signal  victory. 
This  defeat  seemed  to  bewilder  Lee,  and  as  he  could  not  withstand  the  vigorous  assault  of  the  2d — his  lines 
having  been  broken  in  numerous  places — he  noiselessly  withdrew  his  army  toward  the  Danville  Road  at 
nightfall. 

Before  sunrise  on  the  3d  Parke  had  gone  through  the  enemy's  lines  and  taken  Petersburg.  Grant  now 
ordered  Sheridan  to  push  toward  the  Danville  Road,  while  Meade  was  in  close  pursuit  up  the  Appomattox. 

In  the  afternoon  Grant  received  word  from  Weitzel  that  Richmond  had  been  taken  early  in  the  morning 
and  was  securely  held.  Notwithstanding  these  victories  Grant  was  apprehensive  of  Lee's  escape,  and  con 
sequently  set  out  in  pursuit  of  him. 

The  Federal  losses  at  Five  Forks  were  about  800  killed  and  wounded  ;  the  Confederate  losses  8,500. 

At  the  assault  and  fall  of  Petersburg  the  Federals  lost  3,300  and  the  Confederates  3,000. 


—  502  — 

responded  to  and  Private  James  Thompson,  of  Company  K,  Fourth  New  York  Heavy 
Artillery,  one  of  the  little  squad  that  volunteered,  lived  to  tell  the  following  of  what 
happened  : 

"  Five  other  comrades,  my  brother  and  myself,  stepped  to  the  front  following  the 
call  of  General  Miles  for  volunteers,  and  received  our  instructions  directly  from  the 
general.  We  were  to  advance  about  fifty  feet  apart,  with  our  rifles  at  a  ready,  and 
to  fire  the  instant  we  discovered  the  first  sign  of  an  enemy  concealed  in  ambush. 
When  we  had  reached  a  certain  tree  he  pointed  out  to  us  one  of  our  number  was  to 
climb  it  and  swing  his  cap  as  a  signal  for  the  brigade  to  come  on  if  we  found  that 
all  was  well.  We  started,  my  brother  first,  I  next,  and  the  other  five  in  their  regu 
lar  order  from  right  to  left.  After  advancing  perhaps  one-fourth  of  the  way,  through 
the  slashing,  we  had  all  bunched  together,  and  proceeded  in  this  manner  perhaps 
fifty  yards  farther,  when  we  were  surprised  to  see  an  outpost  of  the  enemy  of  about 
fifty  men  rise  out  of  the  slashing  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  road  and  within  fifty  feet 
of  us.  They  ordered  us  to  throw  down  our  guns  and  'come  in.' 

"  What  could  we  do  ?  We  had  the  secret  of  a  signal  that  would  have  drawn  that 
brigade  of  brave  boys  in  our  rear  into  this  death-trap,  where  the  enemy  could  have 
shot  them  down  at  their  leisure.  We  knew  very  well  that  if  we  surrendered  without 
giving  the  alarm  we  would  be  compelled  to  give  up  the  signal  or  die,  so  we  decided 
our  only  course  was  to  give  the  alarm  and  die  where  we  were.  We  fired,  and  received 
their  volley  of  fifty  pieces  at  a  distance  of  scarcely  100  feet. 

"Six  of  our  number  were  stretched  on  the  ground,  five  dead,  one  desperately 
wounded,  and  one  with  several  holes  through  his  clothes  but  without  a  scratch  on 
his  body,  who  made  his  way  back  to  the  rear  and  to  his  company  as  soon  as  possible. 
Our  troops  heard  the  alarm  shots  and  the  volley  that  followed,  and  knew  at  once 
what  had  happened  to  our  little  squad.  The  enemy's  position  was  uncovered.  The 
•  battle  commenced  at  once.  Our  brigade  held  the  position  where  they  were,  while 
our  Second  Division  swung  around  and  took  them  on  the  flank,  taking  a  great  many 
prisoners  and  compelling  them  to  evacuate  their  works  and  hunt  another  position  to 
the  rear.  After  the  battle  was  over  our  little  squad  was  not  forgotten.  A  detail 
was  sent  to  bury  them,  which  found  me  still  in  the  land  of  the  living,  lying  with  my 
dead  comrades  all  this  time  between  the  contending  lines,  praying  for  a  ball  to  come 
and  end  my  misery.  My  brother,  Allan  Thompson,  was  the  one  who  got  back  to  the 
lines  in  safety  and  made  this  report.  He  also  received  a  Medal  of  Honor." 


The  charge  upon  the  Confederate  works  at  White  Oak  Road  brought  out  another 
brave  deed,  of  which  First  Lieutenant  Stephen  P.  Corliss,  of  Company  F,  Fourth 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  was  the  hero.  The  enemy  had  a  battery  posted  on  an 
elevation  near  the  South  Side  Railroad  where  it  intersected  with  the  White  Oak 
Road  leading  into  Petersburg,  and  was  able  to  do  great  damage  to  the  advancing 
Federals  from  that  position.  The  order  came  to  capture  the  battery,  which  was 


—  504  — 


protected  by  infantry.  The  brigade  to  which  the  Fourth 
New  York  Artillery  were  attached  as  infantry  started  to 
carry  out  the  command.  The  enemy's  fire  wras  at  once 
concentrated  upon  the  advancing  brigade  with  such  telling 
effect  that  the  advance  was.  for  a  time  at  least,  checked. 
Again  the  forward  movement  was  ordered  and  taken  up,  to  be 
checked  a  second  time.  For  a  third  time  the  advance  was 
resumed.  At  this  juncture  the  color-sergeant  of  one  of  the 
regiments  was  shot  and  the  colors  fell  to  the  ground.  Lieu 
tenant  Corliss,  who  witnessed  the  fall  of  the  flag,  at  once 
dismounted,  picked  up  the  colors  and  remounted.  With  flag 
in  hand  he  rode  at  the  head  of  the  brigade  into  the  enemy's 
works  and  placed  them  there.  The  colors  were  closely 

followed  by  the  enthused  men,  the  works  were  carried  and  the  rebels  routed  in 
utter  defeat.  Lieutenant  Corliss'  action  contributed  greatly  in  the  achievement  of 
a  splendid  victory. 

THRILLING   EPISODES  AROUND   PETERSBURG 


STEPHEN  P.  CORLISS, 

1st  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  4th  N.  Y.  H.  A. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Brev.-Col.,  U.S.  V. 

Born  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 

July  26,  1842. 


ENERAL  GRANT'S  eagerness  to  destroy  or  capture  Lee's  army  rather  than  his  desire 
to  take  Petersburg  led  to  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  Va.,  on  April  1,  1865.  Lee 
was  striving  to  join  Johnston  and  free  himself  from  the  net  into  which  he  and  his 
army  had  been  so  skillfully  driven  by  Grant.  To  hold  him  there  and  catch  him  was 
the  Federal  commander's  sole  aim  and  purpose.  To  break  through  the  meshes  and 
escape  was  Lee's  sole  object.  On  the  Union  side  was  General  Warren,  with  the 
Fifth  Corps,  and  General  Sheridan,  commanding  the  Cavalry  Corps. 

The  Confederates  had  a  line  of  strong  works  for  their  support,  while  the  nature 
of  the  country  made  it  impossible  for  the  Federals  to  intrench,  and  they  were  thus 
presented  with  the  alternative  of  fighting  or  falling  back.  The  battle  began  late  in 
the  afternoon,  the  dismounted  cavalry  making  an  attack  on  the  works,  the  Fifth 
Corps  striking  the  enemy's  left  flank.  Both  sides  fought  with  great  valor  and 
stubbornness,  and  the  battle  was  handsomely  contested ;  but  before  nightfall  the 
enemy  were  driven  from  their  strong  line  of  works  and  completely  routed.  Nearly 
6,000  Confederates  were  captured,  and  the  remainder  of  the  demoralized  army  was' 
driven  toward  Petersburg,  pursued  for  miles  by  the  victorious  cavalry. 

The  loss  on  the  Union  side  was  not  severe,  numerically,  but  some  of  the  bravest 
officers  lost  their  lives  on  that  battlefield  ;  for  example,  Colonel  Winthrop,  who  led 
the  First  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  He  fell  at  the  head  of 
his  soldiers,  shortly  after  the  charge  was  ordered.  Colonel  James  Grindlay,  of  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  New  York  Infantry,  at  once  assumed  command,  was 
the  first  to  enter  the  enemy's  works  and  in  the  ensuing  struggle  captured  two  rebel 
battle-flags. 


—  505  — 


The  contests 
on  this  battle 
field  abound 
with  incidents 
of  similar  in 
spiring  b  r  a  v  - 
ery. 

First    Lieu- 
tenant  Albert  E. 
Fernald,    of    Com 
pany   F,   Twentieth 
Maine    Infantry,    was 
with    his    regiment   in 
the  last  line  when  the 
battle  opened,  but  was  in 
the  first  line  when  the  works 
were  reached.    The  left  of  the 
regiment  struck  the  works  first, 
he  being  somewhat  in  advance, 
and  as  he  cleared  the  breastworks 
ran  toward  a  body  of  Confederates 
with   a  rebel   color-bearer.     He 
rushed  among  the  crowd  and  se 
cured  the  flag  before  even  his  regi 
ment  had  gotten  into  the  works. 
Lieutenant  Henry  Gr.  Bonebrake,  of 
Company    G,   Seventh    Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  in  his  ardor  to  secure  a  Con 
federate  flag  ran  after  a  Confederate  color- 
bearer  as  soon   as  he   had    entered   the 
works  as  one  of  the  first  of  Devin's  Division, 
caught  up  to  the  Confederate,  and  in  a 
hand-to-hand  struggle  dispossessed  his  antago 
nist  of  the  flag  by  superior  physical  strength. 


He 


(l)WILLIAM  W.  WINEGAR, 

Lieut.,  Co.  B,  1st  N.  Y.  Drag. 
Born  at  Union  Springs, 
N.  Y.,  October  20, 1844. 


(G)  ROBERT  F.  SHIPLEY, 

Sergeant,  Co.  A,  140th  N.  Y. 

Infantry. 

Born  at  Williamson,  N.  Y., 
May  8, 1838. 


(3)  JOSEPH  FISHER,    ( 0  J.  WALLACE  SCOTT,  (o)  ROBERT  L.  ORR. 

Corp. , Co.  C, 61st  Pa.  Inf.  Capt. , Co. D,  157th  Pa.  Inf.    Colonel,  Olst  Pa.  Inf. 

('-')  JOHN  C.MATTHEWS'    Born  at  Philadelphia,      Highest  rank  attained:    Born  at  Philadelphia, 
Pa    Aug.  24,  l,Si:(.  Brevet-Major.  Pa.,  March  28,  1836. 

Born, Chester  Co., Pa. ,1838 


Pvt.,Co.  A,  filst  Pa.  Inf. 
Born  in  Westmoreland 
Co.,  Pa.,  March  29, 1810. 


(7)  ALBERT  E.  FERNALD, 
1st  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  20th  Me.  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attain'd:  Capt. 
Born  at  Hampden,  Me..  May 
13, 1838. 


(8)  JOHN  C.  EWING, 

Co.  E,  211th  Pa.  Inf. 

(10)  FRANK  FESQ, 
Private.  Co.  A.  40th  N.  J.  Inf. 
Born  in  Brunswick,  Ger 
many,  April  4,  1840. 


(9)  LESTER  G.  HACK, 

Sergeant,  Co.  F,  5th  Vt.  Inf. 

Born,  Coldmill,  Pa.,  Jan.  18, 1844. 

(11)  CHARLES  A  HUNTER, 
Sergt.,  Co.  E,  34th  Mass.  Iirf. 


—  506  — 


It  was  a  rather  critical  situation  in  which  Lieutenant  William  W.  Winegar,  of 
Company  B,  First  New  York  Dragoons,  had  to  exert  all  his  wit  and  summon  all  the 
presence  of  mind  at  his  command.  In  the  excitement  of  the  battle  he  had  become 
separated  from  his  company  and  was  still  advancing  when  his  comrades  were  quite 
a  distance  from  him.  Presently  he  found  himself  surrounded  by  rebels.  It  was 
then  he  discovered  that  he  was  alone.  Retreat  was  impossible.  He  had  to  rely  on 
his  nerve.  He  ran  up  to  a  Confederate  color-bearer  who  was  standing  only  a  few 
feet  away  and,  grasping  the  staff  of  his  flag,  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  whole 
crowd.  The  rebel  was  not  quite  willing  to  yield.  On  the  contrary  he  quickly  drew 
his  revolver  and  shouted :  "  Never  !  You'll  not  get  this  flag  ! "  At  this  instant  Lieu 
tenant  Winegar  fired,  and  so  effectively  that  the  whole  company  was  demoralized. 
Then,  at  his  command,  they  surrendered  and  were  marched  to  the  rear. 

Sergeant  Robert  F.  Shipley,  of  Company  A,  One  hundred  and  fortieth  New  York 
Infantry,  ran  across  a  flag-bearer  of  the  Ninth  Virginia  Infantry,  who  had  his  back 
turned  toward  him.  A  gentle  poke  with  the  butt  of  the  rifle  reminded  the  Virginian 
that  a  Union  soldier  wanted  his  flag.  "  Pass  those  colors  over  to  me,"  Shipley 
shouted.  The  Confederate  whirled  around  and  with  the  flagstaff  for  a  club  was 
about  to  let  it  down  on  the  head  of  the  sergeant,  but  the  latter,  considering  this  the 
wrong  answer  to  his  command,  made  good  use  of  his  bayonet,  which  rendered 
further  parley  superfluous,  and  thus  secured  the  flag. 

Simultaneously  with  the  battle  at  Five  Forks  a  bombardment  was  opened  upon 
the  enemy's  lines  of  fortifications  around  and  about  Petersburg,  Va.,  followed  by  a 
general  assault  on  the  next  day,  April  2d.  Again  the  fighting  was  of  the  most  deter 
mined  character  and  the  losses,  even  to  the  Union  forces,  correspondingly  severe. 
The  works  were  an  extraordinarily  strong  line  of  rifle  pits  with  deep  ditches  and 
high  relief  preceded  by  one  or  two  lines  of  abatis,  unusually  well  constructed  and 
with  a  line  of  very  strong  fraise  between  them.  At  every  few  hundred  yards  were 
forts  or  batteries  well  supplied  with  artillery.  They  looked  well-nigh  impregnable, 
and  nothing  but  the  most  resolute  bravery  could  result  in  penetrating  them. 

The  general  assault  was  ordered  shortly  before  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but 
owing  to  some  misapprehension  the  Federal  pickets  began  to  fire  while  the  columns 
were  still  forming.  This  drew  the  enemy's  fire,  not  only  upon  the  pickets  but  also 
on  the  dense  masses  in  the  rear,  causing  some  loss  of  life,  considerable  confusion  and 
threatening  to  break  the  whole  plan  of  attack.  However,  by  the  exertions  of 
the  officers  the  pickets  soon  ceased  to  use  their  rifles  and  quiet  was  restored,  the 
Confederates  apparently  not  being  over-anxious  to  exchange  shots  in  the  darkness. 
As  soon  as  day  began  to  dawn  the  looked-for  signal  was  given  and  the  assault 
was  made.  The  advancing  columns  broke  over  the  enemy's  picket  line  and,  under 
a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  a  more  deadly  yet  less  noisy  fire  of  musketry  from 
the  parapets,  moved  over  the  main  defenses.  Abatis  was  cut  away  and  through 
the  openings  thus  made,  and  through  those  made  by  the  enemy  for  their  own  con 
venience  in  permitting  access  to  the  front,  their  works  were  gained.  After  a  sharp 


—  507  — 

but  brief  conflict  the  Confederates  yielded  along  the  whole  line  to  the  superior 
valor  of  the  Federals,  whose  prisoners  they  became  after  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
to  escape.  The  entire  rebel  artillery  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors. 

In  this  assault  the  Sixty-first  Pennsylvania  Infantry  played  an  important  part 
and  conducted  itself  so  valiantly  that  no  less  than  five  of  its  members  were  honored 
with  a  Medal  of  Honor  for  distinguished  gallantry. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Robert  L.  Orr  took  charge  of  the  regiment  at  a  critical  mo 
ment  when  the  regimental  commander,  Colonel  Crosby,  fell,  mortally  wounded.  His 
gallant  leadership  inspired  the  men  and  restored  their  confidence.  Two  color- 
bearers  having  been  shot  down,  the  colonel  himself  grasped  one  of  the  flags  and 
carried  it  throughout  the  entire  charge  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  which  formed 
the  apex  of  the  famous  wedge-shaped  assault.  One  of  these  color-bearers  was  Cor 
poral  Joseph  Fisher,  of  Company  C.  A  bursting  shell  had  shattered  his  arm  and 
torn  a  wide  gash  in  his  side.  He  at  first  held  on  to  the  colors  and  with  wonderful 
pluck  and  nerve  attempted  to  crawl  to  the  works  and  there  plant  his  flag,  but  his 
strength  failed  and  he  fainted  on  the  way. 

The  death  of  Colonel  Crosby,  the  fall  of  the  color-bearers,  coupled  with  the 
temporary  disappearance  of  the  colors,  caused  some  commotion,  if  not  confusion,  in 
the  ranks,  which,  as  stated,  ceased  when  Lieutenant-Colonel  Orr  assumed  command. 
However,  much  credit  is  due  to  Private  John  C.  Mathews,  of  Company  A,  who  rushed 
to  the  side  of  one  of  the  fallen  color-bearers  and,  holding  the  flag  aloft,  greatly  aided 
in  restoring  order  and  confidence.  For  this  fine  display  of  quick  action  and  presence 
of  mind  Colonel  Orr  promoted  him  a  color-sergeant  then  and  there. 

Privates  Milton  Mathews  and  Theodore  Mitchell,  both  of  Company  C,  distinguished 
themselves  by  each  capturing  a  Confederate  battle-flag. 

An  idea  of  the  fierce  fighting  near  Petersburg,  which  commenced  as  early  as 
March  31st,  is  given  by  the  narrative  of  Corporal  Franklin  W.  Lutes,  of  Company  D, 
One  hundred  and  eleventh  New  York  Infantry,  who  won  his  medal  on  that  day. 

"  When  the  order  came  to  fix  bayonets  and  charge,"  says  Corporal  Lutes, "  I  was  left 
guide  of  my  regiment.  Upon  jumping  from  behind  our  breastworks  we  were  met  by 
an  awful  volley  from  the  enemy,  who  understood  our  move  and  determined  to  drive 
us  back  to  our  fortifications.  Many  fell  before  this  storm  of  lead,  but  the  remainder 
pushed  on.  Suddenly  I  saw,  in  front  of  their  lines,  the  rebel  color-guard,  proudly 
waving  the  flag  of  the  Forty-first  Alabama  Infantry. 

"  I  yelled  to  my  comrades  that  we  should  capture  those  colors,  and,  dashing  for 
ward  about  ten  rods  in  advance  of  our  line,  dropped  down  behind  some  rails  that 
formed  a  small  shelter  between  two  trees.  Here  I  watched  my  opportunity,  and 
when  our  line  got  a  little  closer  jumped  over  and  captured  color-bearer  and  flag 
and  also  one  of  the  color-guard." 

Sergeant  Lester  G.  Hack,  of  Company  F,  Fifth  Vermont  Infantry,  adds  another 
chapter  to  the  many  phases  of  the  contest  on  the  2d  of  April. 


—  508  — 

"  When  we  had  driven  the  rebels  from  their  works,"  he  says,  "  every  man  began 
to  shift  for  himself,  pursuing  the  enemy,  who  were  fleeing  helter  skelter  in  all 
directions. 

"About  one  hundred  yards  to  my  right  a  small  body  of  rebels  were  commencing 
to  rally  round  their  colors.  I  rushed  at  the  color-sergeant  and  jerked  the  colors 
from  his  hands,  at  the  same  time  ordering  the  rebels  around  me  to  surrender.  Some 
of  them  obeyed  my  command,  but  the  majority  took  to  flight." 

Private  Frank  Fesq,  of  Company  A,  Fortieth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  came  face  to 
face  with  the  color-bearer  of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Infantry.  In  the  ensu 
ing  struggle  his  hand  was  almost  smashed  and  he  was  severely  cut  in  the  thigh  with 
a  rebel  sabre,  but  he  captured  the  colors. 

While  this  fighting  was  going  on  the  Twenty-fourth  Army  Corps,  commanded  by 
General  Gibbon,  carried  Forts  Gregg  and  Baldwin,  which  the  Confederates  had 
erected  to  protect  their  right  at  Petersburg.  This  capture  practically  secured  posses 
sion  of  the  place  and  induced  the  rebels,  after  the  loss  of  their  works,  to  evacuate 
Petersburg  and  retreat. 

Sergeant  Charles  E.  Hunter,  of  Company  E,  Thirty-fourth  Massachusetts  Infantry, 
whose  regiment  took  part  in  this  important  action,  says  that  the  men  fought  for 
twenty-seven  minutes  outside  of  the  parapet  before  the  enemy  surrendered.  It  was 
a  herculean  struggle,  but  ended  with  a  brilliant  victory  for  the  attacking  Federals, 
who  would  not  yield  until  they  accomplished  their  task.  Sergeant  Hunter  had  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  color-bearer  to  enter  Fort  Gregg  and  plant  his  flag  011  the 
rebel  stronghold.  His  conduct  throughout  the  Appomattox  campaign,  and  especially 
at  Fort  Gregg,  was  so  exceptionally  brave  that  two  months  later  the  Medal  of  Honor 
was  pinned  on  his  breast. 

Captain  J.  Wallace  Scott,  of  Company  D,  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  Penn 
sylvania  Infantry,  while  leading  his  men  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  encountered  a 
Confederate  carrying  the  flag  of  the  Sixteenth  South  Carolina  Infantry,  and  in  the 
ensuing  struggle  for  its  possession  the  captain  wrested  the  flag  from  the  Confederate 
and  brought  it  safely  off  the  field. 

Private  John  Ewing,  of  Company  E,  Two  hundred  and  eleventh  Pennsylvania 
Infantry,  performed  a  similar  deed  at  Petersburg  the  following  day,  where  he  cap 
tured  the  standard  of  the  Sixty-first  Alabama  Infantry. 

The  courage  and  daring  required  in  the  capture  of  a  battle-flag  can  best  be  ap 
preciated  by  those  who  have  taken  part  in  or  witnessed  a  hand-to-hand  combat  for 
the  possession  of  one.  It  is  a  struggle  to  the  death.  Although  many,  during  the 
great  war,  attempted  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  flags,  few  succeeded,  the  majority 
paying  for  their  efforts  with  their  life-blood. 

While  others  figured  conspicuously  in  this  battle  and  were  rewarded  with  the 
Medal  of  Honor,  their  valorous  deeds  must  be  omitted  from  these  pages  owing  to 
the  inability  of  the  compilers  to  obtain  their  personal  reminiscences. 


—  511 


ATTRACTED  GENERAL  CUSTER'S  ATTENTION 


WILMON  W.  BLACKMAR, 

Lieutenant,  Company  H,  1st 
\V.  V.  Cav. 

Highest  rank  att'nerl :     Capt. 
Born  in  Bristol,  Pa.,  July  1811. 


A  T  THE  battle  of  Five  Forks,  Va.,  April  1,  1865, 
**     Lieutenant  Wilmon  W.  Blackmar,  of  Com 
pany  H,  First  West  Virginia  Cavalry  was  brigade 
provost-marshal  on  the  staff  of  General  Capehart, 
commander  of  the  First  Brigade  of  General  Cus- 
ter's  Cavalry  Division.     General  Capehart's  Brig 
ade  had  been  ordered  to  join  in  the  general  charge 
and  follow  what  seemed  to  be  the  main  body  of  the 
Confederates.     The  order  was  carried  out.     Presently 
Lieutenant  Blackmar  saw  the  flankers  being  driven  in 
and  riding  to  their  assistance  made  the  startling  discovery 
that  the  brigade  was  in  pursuit  of  a  small  detachment  only,  the 
main  body  of  the  enemy  being  posted  in  another  direction.    He 
also  observed  that  the  enemy  were  about  to  take  advantage  of 
the  mistake  and  by  a  bold  move  push  their  troops  between  the 
cavalry  and  infantry  in  the  Union  line  of   battle.      He  rode 
rapidly  after  and  overtook  his  brigade  commander,  hastily  told 
what  he  had  discovered  and  was  ordered  to  ride  back  at  once 

and  form  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle  (facing  the  enemy's  position)  as  rapidly  as 
it  should  be  turned  back  to  him.  He  formed  a  new  line  of  battle  on  the  edge  of  a 
deep  ditch  facing  in  the  new  direction.  The  situation  was  highly  critical,  and  no 
one  realized  the  danger  more  keenly  than  Lieutenant  Blackmar.  He  had  no  author 
ity  to  give  orders  to  advance,  nevertheless  he  assumed  the  responsibility,  not  waiting 
for  the  arrival  of  the  larger  portion  of  the  brigade  now  moving  rapidly  toward  the 
new  line,  and  with  the  brigade  colors  and  that  portion  of  the  brigade  which  had 
arrived,  he  ordered  a  charge,  jumped  the  ditch  and  a  most  brilliant  and  impetuous 
charge  was  thus  begun.  The  charge  was  made  so  irresistibly  that  the  Confederates 
fled  in  great  confusion  ;  the  brigade  pursued  for  more  than  five  miles,  picking  up 
prisoners,  cannon,  wagons  and  ambulances  from  the  utterly  demoralized  enemy. 

General  George  A.  Ouster,  happened  to  be  an  eye-witness  of  this  incident  and  riding 
to  Lieutenant  Blackmar's  side  he  laid  his  hand  on  his  shoulder  and  called  him  captain, 
at  the  same  time  joining  in  the  charge.  Recommendations  from  Generals  Ouster  and 
Capehart  promptly  brought  Lieutenant  Blackmar  commission  as  captain  of  cavalry. 

N  THE  31st  of  March,  1865,  Sheridan's  Cavalry  Corps  developed  two  divisions  of 
Confederate  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry  near  Five  Forks,  Va.,  and  Major 
Horatio  King,  chief  quartermaster  of  the  first  division,  feeling  that  he  could  safely 
leave  his  train  in  charge  of  the  senior  brigade  quartermaster,  tendered  his  services 
to  General  Devin  as  a  volunteer  aide  on  his  staff  and  was  granted  permission  to 
accompany  him.  Owing  to  the  wooded  character  of  the  country  the  cavalry  fought 
dismounted.  The  ground  was  stubbornly  contested  until  about  four  P.  M.,  when  a 


—  512  — 


report  was  brought  from  the  Seventh  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  that  the  Federal  line  was 
driven  back.  At  this  time  Major  King  was  the  only  staff  officer  remaining  with  Gen 
eral  Devin,  commanding  the  division,  and  he  was  requested 
to  hunt  up  the  reserve  brigade  under  General  Gibbs  and 
hurry  them  to  the  aid  of  the  Second  Brigade.  The  reserve 
was  somewhere  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  so,  follow 
ing  the  direction  of  the  firing  with  all  possible  speed  for 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  the  major  found  General 
Gibbs,  delivered  his  orders,  and  proceeded  with  him  at  once 
to  the  critical  position  where  the  brigade  was  deployed. 
They  arrived  just  in  time  to  repel  a  charge  of  the  Confed 
erate  infantry  and  save  the  line  from  serious  disaster, 
Major  King  accompanying  General  Gibbs  and  participating 
in  the  charge. 

The  fighting  continued  until  dark,  when,  finding  that 
the  troops  he  had  were  unequal  to  the  task  of  dislodging 
the  Confederates  from  their  strong  works,  General  Devin 
withdrew  his  forces  to  the  neighborhood  of  Dinwiddie  Court 

House.     On  the  following  day,  in  consequence  of  the  imminent  danger  of  the  train, 
General  Sheridan  directed  Major  King  to  return  and  resume  charge. 


HORATIO   KING, 

Maj.  and  Quartermaster,  U.  8.  V. 

Highest  rank  attained  : 

Brevet-Colonel,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Born  In  Portland,  Maine, 

December  22, 1837. 


ENGINEER,    SURGEON    AND    HERO 


'"THE  SIEGE  of  Petersburg  was  terminated  by  the  action  of 
April  2,  1865.  Lee  withdrew  on  the  3d,  leaving  Peters 
burg  and  Richmond  in  the  possession  of  the  Union  generals. 
This  scene  is  remarkable  in  the  history  of  the  Civil  War  for 
the  terrible  losses  suffered  by  both  armies.  In  this  fierce 
assault  of  April  2d  the  number  of  Union  killed  and  wounded 
was  estimated  at  3,361,  the  Confederate  loss  being  some 
what  less. 

Among  the  many  exhibitions  of  courage  in  the  field  and 
valuable  services  rendered  by  officers  on  this  occasion  were 
those  of  Dr.  William  R.  D.  Blackwood,  of  the  Forty-eighth 
Pennsylvania.  The  doctor  had  served  several  times  as  aide- 
de-camp  and  as  volunteer  engineer  officer.  The  inside  work 
of  the  Petersburg  Mine,  the  longest  and  most  extensive  on 
record,  was  largely  engineered  by  this  officer. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  last  assault  Major  Peckham,  adjutant-general  of  the 
brigade,  was  wounded  in  the  head  during  a  heavy  attack  of  the  enemy.     He  lay  for 


WILLIAM  R.  D.  BLACKWOOD, 
M.  D., 

Surg. ,48th  Pennsylvania  Inf. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Brevet-Lieut.-Col. 

Born  at  Hollywood,  Ireland. 

.May  12,  1838. 


—  513  — 

some  time  under  the  Confederate  guns,  the  shells  bursting  all  around  him,  until  Dr. 
Blackwood  rushed  out  at  the  risk  of  his  life  and  conveyed  him  to  shelter  behind 
some  low  earthworks.  Almost  immediately  this  protection  was  destroyed  by  shells, 
which  killed  and  wounded  several  who  were  near  the  spot.  The  doctor's  efforts  to 
save  Major  Peckham  failed,  and  he  died  within  an  hour. 


"AT  THE  RISK  OF   HIS  LIFE  CONVEYED  HIM  TO  SHELTER.' 

Dr.  Blackwood  performed  a  similar  service  in  the  case  of  Colonel  G.  W.  Gowen 
of  his  regiment,  who  died  as  he  was  being  carried  from  the  field,  and  it  was  for  his 
heroic  efforts  to  save  the  body  from  destruction  by  the  incessant  shell-fire  of  the 
enemy  that  the  doctor  received  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


THEY  CAN'T  DRIVE  YOU  OUT  OF  HERE' 


EARLY  in  the  day  on  April  2, 1865,  General  Hartranft's  Division  captured  a  number 
of  forts  around   Petersburg.     In  the  afternoon  the   general  detailed  Captain 
Thomas  W.  Hoffman,  of  Company  A,  Two  hundred  and  eighth  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 


—  514  — 


who  was  attached  to  his  staff  as  engineer,  to  ascertain 
the  possibility  of  holding  the  advanced  position.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  front  line  he  heard  the  order  to  fall  back  given 
and  saw  some  of  the  officers  run  to  the  rear  in  undue  haste. 
The  men,  too,  were  on  the  point  of  retreating;  some  of  them, 
in  fact,  had  already  turned  to  the  rear.  The  idea  seemed  to 
prevail  that  the  Confederates,  who  were  howling,  shouting 
and  fighting  in  front  like  demons,  were  flanking  the  advance 
guard.  Captain  Hoffman's  timely  arrival  on  the  scene  pre 
vented  a  rout.  He  quickly  drew  his  sword  and  yelled  at  the 
top  of  his  voice:  "Don't  a  man  of  you  run!  They  can't 
drive  you  out  of  here !  " 

This  had  a  reassuring  effect.  The  men  regained  their 
confidence  as  soon  as  they  saw  that  somebody  was  in  com 
mand,  the  officers  returned  to  their  posts  and  the  lines  were  re-established  and 
presented  such  a  solid  front  that  the  rebels  did  not  even  dare  to  make  a  serious 
attack,  but  were  satisfied  after  several  unfruitful  attempts  to  leave  the  Federals 
masters  of  the  field.  Captain  Hoffman  was  also  brevetted  lieutenant-colonel  for 
this  act. 


THOMAS  W.  HOFFMAN, 

Captain.  Co.  A,  208th  Pa.  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained: 

Brevet  Lieut.-Col.  U.  S.  Vol.*. 

Born  at  Berrysburg,  Pa.,  July 

25,  1839. 


WITH  an  innate  love  for  justice  and  the  righteous 
ness  of  the  Union  cause  seventeen-year-old 
Charles  Reeder  tore  away  from  his  home  in  a  little 
Virginia  village  and  joined  the  Union  army  at  the 
very  outbreak  of  the  war.  This  was  the  more  praise 
worthy  as  he  had  been  reared  amidst  surroundings 
which  were  decidedly  hostile  to  Northern  sentiment. 
His  father  was  a  stanch  follower  of  the  Confederate 
cause  and  objected  to  his  course.  But  young  Reeder's 
mind  was  made  up.  In  the  conflict  between  home  and 
parents  and  the  Union  and  justice  he  did  not  hesitate 
in  making  his  choice  and  decided  for  the  latter.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Federal  Army  and  became  a  private  in 
Company  G,  Twelfth  West  Virginia  Infantry. 

In  speaking  of  the  action  in  which  he  won  the 
medal,  he  says :     "  In  the  early  dawn  of  the  morning 

of  April  2,  1865,  we  moved  out  from  our  breastworks  preparatory  to  making  a 
charge  upon  Petersburg.  Silence  prevailed  in  the  ranks.  The  enemy  had  not  fired 
since  the  evening  before,  thinking  probably  that  we  would  not  attack  them,  fortified 
as  they  were  behind  strong  intrenchments  and  a  field  full  of  mines. 


CHARLES  A.   REEDER, 

Private.  Co.  (i.  1-Jth  West  Va.  Inf. 

Born  in  Hanison  Co. .West 

Virginia,  in  1844. 


—  515  — 

"  The  first  thing  we  did  was  to  drag  some  heavy  guns  as  close  as  we  could  to  their 
works,  to  force  an  entrance  into  their  fortifications.-  When  within  one  hundred 
yards  we  were  discovered  by  the  enemy,  who  at  once  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  us 
with  artillery.  Amid  this  rain  of  shot  and  shell  we  threw  up  some  slight  fortifica 
tions  for  our  guns  and  returned  shot  for  shot.  This,  however,  could  not  last  long, 
for  our  defenses  were  slight,  while  those  of  the  enemy  were  most  formidable.  Sud 
denly  a  large  shell  from  one  of  our  guns  burst  in  their  midst,  throwing  the  defenders 
into  momentary  confusion.  Such  an  opening  was  too  good  to  be  lost. 

"We  received  the  command  to  fix  bayonets,  and  then,  firing  a  volley,  charged 
right  up  into  their  lines.  The  assault  became  a  severe  hand-to-hand  fight,  every 
man  for  himself.  Presently  I  found  myself  in  the  most  perilous  position  I  had  been 
in  during  the  war.  Being  to  the  right  of  Company  G,  I  was  cut  off  from  my  com 
rades  and  lost  in  the  wild  confusion.  Surrounded  by  the  enemy  I  could  only  parry 
thrusts  and  cuts  from  bayonets  and  sabres  until  almost  exhausted.  My  determina 
tion  then  was  to  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  possible,  and  I  clubbed  right  and  left.  A 
color-bearer  was  among  my  assailants  and  he,  too,  received  the  butt  of  my  gun. 
Seizing  the  flag  .from  his  grasp  was  the  work  of  but  a  moment,  and  with  it  I  quickly 
ran  towards  my  comrades,  thus  bringing  into  our  lines  a  stand  of  Confederate  colors." 


A  T  ABOUT  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  April  1, 1865,  Captain  G.  W.  Adams,  of  Battery 
-*"•  G,  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery,  was  detailed  to  select  a  detachment  of 
twenty  men  from  his  battery  to  advance  with  the  Sixth  Army  Corps  in  its  intended 
assault  on  the  enemy's  works  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  with  this  detachment 
take  command  of  all  the  captured  guns  and  turn  them  on  the  enemy. 

Late  that  night  Captain  Adams  called  his  battery  together  and  asked  for  volun 
teers  for  this  hazardous  duty,  at  the  same  time  pointing  out  to  them  what  it  meant 
to  go  into  the  enemy's  works  with  only  ramrods,  sponge-staffs,  lanyards,  friction 
primers  and  gunspikes ;  that,  should  they  be  unable  to  work  the  captured  guns,  they 
would  have  no  means  of  defending  themselves,  except  with  these  implements. 

Twenty  men  nevertheless  promptly  volunteered,  and  at  the  outset  of  the  assault, 
when  the  captain  asked  whether  any  of  the  twenty  wished  to  remain  with  the  bat 
tery,  only  three  fell  out,  thus  leaving  seventeen  to  perform  the  duty  laid  out  for 
them. 

At  daybreak  of  the  2d  the  assaulting  column  moved  upon  the  fortifications  of 
the  enemy  amid  a  shower  of  shot  and  shell  with  such  resistless  force  that  the  works 
were  carried  and  the  enemy  driven  back.  Here  followed  the  little  volunteer  detach 
ment  of  seventeen,  scaling  the  works  and  at  once  taking  possession  of  twelve  large 
guns,  but  when  they  began  to  work  them  it  was  necessary  to  fire  along  the  line  of 
works  in  order  to  drive  the  enemy  out  of  the  embrasures  at  the  end  of  the  pits,  and 


—  516- 


consequently  only  one  gun,  a  twenty-four  pounder  Napoleon,  could  be  used.  It  was  in 
an  exposed  position,  and  the  brave  cannoneers  received  a  heavy  tire  from  the  rebels 
in  the  embrasures  of  the  forts  they  still  retained.  But  the  gun  was  kept  hot  by  the 
rapid  fire  with  which  the  little  band  poured  one  hundred  or  more  shots  into  the 
enemy,  causing  them  to  become  demoralized  and  retire.  Some  of  the  detachment 
were  wounded,  while  others  were  under  cover,  but  the  seven  who  served  this  gun  so 
nobly,  standing  up  unflinchingly  before  the  terrific  fire  of  the  enemy' — Sergeant 
John  H.  Havron,  Sergeant  Archibald  Molbone,  Corporal  James  A.  Barber,  Corporal 
Samuel  E.  Lewis,  Privates  Charles  D.  Ennis,  John  Corcoran  and  George  W.  Potter- 
were  rewarded  for  their  bravery  and  daring  with  the  Medal  of  Honor  soon  after  this 
eventful  day. 


IN   FULL  VIEW   OF  THE    ENEMY 


IRA  H.  EVANS, 

Captain,  Co.  B,  U.  S.  C.  T. 

Highest  rank  attained:   Major. 

Born  in  Piermont,N.  H., 

April  11,1844. 


[N  THE  latter  part  of  March,  1865,  the  Second  Division  of  the 
*  Twenty-fifth  Army  Corps,  General  William  Birney  com 
manding,  was  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  James  and 
moved  to  the  left  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps,  near  Hatcher's 
Run,  Va.,  to  take  part  in  the  final  operations  against  Peters 
burg. 

On  the  day  before  the  capture  of  the  outer  lines  of  fortifi 
cations,  General  Birney  was  instructed  to  have  his  division 
in  readinesss  for  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  in  front. 
His  division  lay  behind  a  low  ridge,  which  sheltered  it  from 
the  view  of  the  enemy.  Beyond  this  ridge  and  well  out 
toward  the  enemy's  works,  in  an  open  field,  were  rifle  pits  in 
which  our  pickets  were  posted.  As  these  rifle  pits  were 
located  in  open  ground  and  within  short  range  of  the  enemy's 

fire,  the  pickets  could  be  relieved  only  after  dark.  Upon  receipt  of  the  orders  stated, 
General  Birney  repeated  them  to  the  members  of  his  staff,  adding  that  he  desired 
one  of  them  to  go  out  to  the  rifle  pits  at  the  front  and  learn  all  he  could  as  to  the 
character  and  extent  of  the  enemy's  defenses,  so  that  he  might  know  what  obstruc 
tions  his  troops  would  encounter  in  making  the  proposed  attack.  He  stated  that 
this  mission  was  so  perilous  in  its  character. that  he  did  not  wish  to  order  any  officer 
of  his  staff  to  perform  it,  and  so  asked  someone  to  volunteer  for  it. 

A  significant  silence  followed  these  remarks.  Captain  Ira  H.  Evans  of  Company 
B,  U.  S.  Colored  Troops,  was  acting  assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  division, 
thus  holding  the  most  important  position  on  the  staff,  although  he  was  the  youngest 
officer  on  it,  at  that  time  lacking  a  few  days  of  being  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He 
felt  that  he  must  perform  this  duty  and  signified  his  willingness  to  do  so  to  the 
general. 


—  517  — 


He  dismounted,  and  giving  his  horse  to  an  orderly  went  up  to  the  top  of  the 
ridge,  then  ran  to  the  line  of  the  rifle  pits  as  rapidly  as  possible.  His  course  was 
through  an  open  field,  gently  sloping  toward  the  rebel  works,  so  that  he  was  in  full 
view  of  the  enemy,  who  at  once  opened 
a  sharp  musketry  fire  on  him.  He 
reached  his  goal  amid  a  shower  of  bullets, 
and  dropped  in  among  the  surprised 
occupants  of  the  rifle  pit  without  much 
formality.  Having  obtained  the  infor 
mation  he  desired,  he  made  his  run  back 
as  speedily  as  possible,  amid  another 
shower  of  bullets.  He  was  the  only  man 
in  the  Union  lines  visible  to  the  Con 
federates  at  the  time,  and  they  gave  him 
their  undivided  attention. 


REWARDED  TWICE 


LIEUTENANT  THOMAS  W.  OUSTER, 
of  Company  B,  Sixth  Michigan  Cav 
alry,  distinguished  himself  at  Namozine 
Church,  April  2d,  and  at  Sailor's  Creek, 
Va.,  April  6th,  by  the  capture  of  a  battle- 
flag  at  each  place. 

At  Sailor's  Creek  Lieutenant  Custer 
leaped  his  horse  over  the  enemy's  lino 
of  works  and  fearlessly  dashed  up  to  the 
rebel  colors.  When  close  to  the  color- 
bearer  he  received  a  shot  in  the  face  which 
knocked  him  backward  on  his  horse,  but  in  a 
moment  he  was  again  upright  in  his  saddle  and  fired 
at  the  color-bearer,  hitting  him  and  causing  him  to  reel. 
Immediately  Custer  reached  out  and  grasped  the  flag, 
wrenching  the  standard  from  the  color-bearer  as  he  fell, 
and  dashed  back  to  his  lines.  Here  he  met  his  brother, 
General  G.  A.  Custer,  and  called  out  to  him  :  "  The  rebels  have 
shot  me,  but  I've  got  their  flag."  Instantly  he  set  spurs  to  his 
horse  to  charge  again,  but  the  general,  realizing  the  severity  of 
his  brother's  wound,  checked  him,  and  told  him  to  go  to  the  rear  and  have  it  dressed. 
This  the  lieutenant  refused  to  do,  whereupon  General  Custer  ordered  him  under 
arrest  and  to  the  rear,  where  it  was  found  that  the  bullet  had  entered  his  cheek  and 
passed  out  behind  the  ear. 


HE   REACHED    HIS 

GOAL  AMID  A  SHOWER 

OF   BULLETS. 


—  518  - 


GALLANT  VERMONTERS 


T 


GARDNER  C.  HAWKINS, 

1st  Lieut..  Co.  E.  3d  Vermont  Inf. 

Born  in  Vermont, 

Feb.,  1846. 


Vermont  Brigade,  having  received  orders  to  at 
tack  Petersburg,  moved  promptly  on  the  morning 
of  April  2d  at  the  given  signal.  After  passing  over 
about  half  the  distance,  the  advancing  column  was  ex 
posed  to  a  well-directed  musketry  fire  from  the  front 
and  artillery  fire  from  forts  on  either  side,  which  com 
pletely  enfiladed  the  line  and  caused  it  to  waver.  This 
was  the  most  critical  moment  throughout  the  entire 
engagement;  day  was  just  beginning  to  dawn,  and  very 
soon  the  enemy  would  be  able  to  discover  the  precise 
position  and  movements  of  the  assaulting  column.  They 
had  been  apprised  of  the  point  of  attack  and  were  ap 
parently  beginning  to  appreciate  its  importance,  as  they 

were  hastening  to  meet  it  with  all  the  strength  at  their  command.  The  wavering 
of  the  troops  was  only  momentary,  for  there  arose  at  the  head  of  the  column  Lieu 
tenant  Gardner  C.  Hawkins,  acting  adjutant  of  the  Third  Vermont  Infantry,  who 
led  his  men,  cheering  them  on,  until  he  nearly  reached  the  enemy's  works,  when  he 
fell,  pierced  by  a  ball  which  passed  through  his  head.  Following  the  example  of 
the  brave  lieutenant,  the  troops  again  pushed  on  with  determination.  The  remain 
ing  ground  was  passed  over  under  a  most  withering  fire  of  musketry,  officers  and 
men  vying  with  one  another  in  the  race  for  the  works,  and  losing  all  organization 
in  their  eagerness  and  enthusiasm  to  reach  them.  The  line  of  abatis  was  swept 
away  like  cobwebs,  and  the  men  swarmed  over  the  works  with  yells  and  cheers  that 
struck  terror  to  the  fleeing  rebels. 

Captain  Charles  G.  Gould,  of  Company  H,  Fifth  Ver 
mont  Infantry,  was  the  first  man  of  the  Sixth  Corps  to 
mount  the  enemy's  works.  His  regiment  was  in  the  first 
line  of  the  brigade,  and  in  the  charge  he  was  far  in 
advance  of  his  command.  Upon  mounting  the  works  he 
received  a  severe  bayonet  wound  in  the  face  and  was 
struck  several  times  with  clubbed  muskets,  but  bravely 
stood  his  ground,  killing  with  his  sabre  the  man  who 
bayoneted  him,  and  retired  from  the  works  only  after 
his  comrades  had  come  to  his  assistance  and  routed  the 
enemy  from  their  lines. 

After  crossing  the  works  the  brigade  re-formed  and 
again  pushed  forward  with  all  the  zeal  of  a  victorious 
army,  passing  through  thickets,  swamps  and  pine  woods 

in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  were  being  pressed  so  closely  that  they  had  scarcely 
time  to  fire  a  shot.  Again  all  organization  was  lost,  and  every  man  considered  him- 


WILLIAM  J.  SPERRY, 

Major,  6th  Vermont  Infantry. 

Highest  rank  attained  : 

Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Born  at  Cavendish,  Vt.,  Dec.  28,1840. 


—  519- 

self  a  host.     Singly,  or  in  squads  of  three  or  four,  they  charged  upon  whatever 
obstructions  came  in  their  paths. 

Major  William  J.  Sperry,  in  command  of  the  Sixth  Vermont  Infantry,  assisted 
by  a  few  men,  captured  two  field  guns  and  turned  them  upon  the  scattering  rebels. 
Being  unable  to  procure  friction  primers,  the  pieces  were  discharged  by  firing  a 
musket  into  the  vent  of  each.  In  this  manner  twelve  rounds  were  fired  into  the 
enemy  when  a  section  of  artillery  came  up  and  the  guns  were  turned  over  to  its 
commander. 


A   PROFITABLE    RECONNOISSANCE 

/CAPTAIN  Augustus  Merrill,  of  Company  B,  First  Maine  Veteran  Infantry,  relates  in 
^-^  the  following  interesting  manner  how  sixty-four  rebels  were  captured  by  a  small 
body  of  skirmishers : 

"  After  entering  the  enemy's  works  on  the  morning  of  April  2,  1865,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  S.  C.  Fletcher,  commanding  the  First  Maine  Veteran  Infantry,  ordered  me  to 
advance  with  a  few  volunteers  to  ascertain  the  enemy's  position  and  strength  in 
our  front. 

"  I  took  twenty  men,  deployed  them  as  skirmishers,  and  advanced  through  the 
woods,  coming  upon  an  old  camp.  Here  I  captured  a  lieutenant  and  three  men 
belonging  to  Hill's  Corps,  who  informed  me  that  slight  resistance  would  be  made 
'this  side  of  Hatcher's  Run.' 

"  When  our  line  advanced  I  pressed  on,  meeting  no  opposition,  picking  up  the 
rebel  stragglers  and  sending  them  to  the  rear,  until  I  reached  Hatcher's  Run  and 
found  that  the  enemy  were  in  position  on  the  opposite  side.  Supposing  that  the 
corps  was  following  in  that  direction,  and  not  having  very  definite  instructions,  I 
determined  to  dislodge  the  Confederates  from  their  position  if  possible.  To  my  left 
was  the  bridge  over  which  the  telegraph  road  runs,  defended  by  strong  works  on  the 
other  side.  Near  the  bridge  was  an  old  wooden  mill.  With  a  small  party  of  men 
who  volunteered  for  the  occasion,  and  who  belonged  to  five  or  six  different  regi 
ments  of  this  corps,  I  moved  along  the  run  to  the  right  through  the  woods,  my  left 
flank  on  the  run.  The  eagerness  of  the  men  induced  me  to  keep  on  some  distance. 
We  came  to  an  old  dam,  where  we  discovered  indications  that  a  crossing  had  been 
made  that  morning,  and  immediately  moved  over  by  the  left  flank,  the  enemy 
firing  a  few  shots  as  we  crossed.  It  was  a  dangerous  place ;  one  man  fell  into  the 
run,  but  came  out  safely,  however,  minus  his  musket,  leaving  me  fifteen  armed  men. 
With  these  I  advanced  and  captured  the  skirmish  line,  firing  but  a  few  shots. 
Guarding  the  prisoners  closely,  I  moved  on  and  soon  came  upon  a  rebel  guard  sur 
rounding  Captain  John  Tifft,  Ninth  New  York  Artillery.  We  captured  the  guard 
and  released  the  captain,  making  the  number  of  prisoners  we  had  thus  far  taken 
sixty-four,  mostly  Virginia  sharpshooters,  who  told  of  their  various  raids  on  our 


—  520  — 

picket  line  during  the  winter,  and  acted  as  though  they  would  like  to  overpower 
our  small  squad  and  march  us  off.  I  told  them  it  would  be  useless  to  resist,  as 
we  had  a  large  force  in  the  rear,  and  their  whole  line  would  be  taken.  Two  of 
my  men  then  reconnoitered  the  woods  and  came  to  the  open  field,  where  they  found 
a  line  of  battle  behind  the  enemy's  works  facing  the  Second  Corps.  Their  left  then 
rested  on  Hatcher's  Run,  we  being  directly  behind  them.  I  took  the  prisoners  across 
the  run  and  marched  them  to  the  rear  without  being  molested  by  the  enemy.  The 


"I   CAPTURED  A  LIEUTENANT  AND  THREE  MEN." 

reconnoissance  was  a  complete  success  in  that  the  information  gained  proved   of 
much  value  to  our  commander. 

"Three  of  the  men,  who  upon  my  request  had  volunteered  to  remain  and  watch 
the  movements  of  the  enemy,  captured  five  more  prisoners,  making  our  total  sixty- 
nine.  A  receipt  for  sixty-four  was  given  me  by  the  sergeant  of  the  provost-guard, 
Second  Division,  and  the  three  other  men  got  credit  for  the  capture  of  five." 


—  521  — 


LANGUAGE  MORE  FORCEFUL  THAN  ELEGANT 


JOHN  LILLEY, 

Private.  Co.  F,  205th  Penn.  Inf. 

Born  in  Oliver  Township,  Mifflin 

County,  Pa. 


ASA  soldier  Private  John  Liiley,  of  Company  F,  Two 
**  hundred  and  fifth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  was  as 
good  a  fighter  as  he  was  emphatic  in  his  speech.  When 
there  was  an  act  of  daring  to  be  done  on  the  field  of 
battle,  Liiley  was  certain  to  volunteer ;  when  a  bit  of 
repartee  or  a  cuss-word  more  expressive  than  choice 
passed  around  among  the  members  of  the  regiment  it 
could  always  be  traced  to  Liiley  as  the  original  source. 
Both  of  these  qualities  gave  him  a  certain  standing 
among  his  comrades,  and  served  him  well  in  an  incident 
at  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2,  1865,  which  won  for  him 
unstinted  praise. 

The  signal  to  charge  had  been  given  and  the  troops,  among  them  the  Two  hun 
dred  and  fifth  Pennsylvania,  rushed  forward.  Three  fortifications  were  taken  with 
great  impetuosity  and  in  quick  succession.  The  Two  hundred  and  fifth  charged  on 
a  fourth  fortification.  Presently  the  discovery  was  made  that  all  of  the  commissioned 
officers  were  remaining  behind  and  the  men  at  once  fell  back,  but  Private  Liiley 
who  was  in  the  lead,  refused  to  follow  suit. 

"  What  ? "  he  shouted,  "Go  back  ?  Not  by  a  damned  sight !  I  don't  care  whether 
there  are  any  officers  with  us  or  not.  See  that  flag  ?  I'm  going  to  have  that  or 
croak." 

The  colors  he  referred  to  were  those  on  the  rebel  works,  and,  suiting  the  action 
to  his  words,  Liiley  rushed  on  until  he  found  himself  at  the  side  of  the  rebel  color- 
bearer.  In  an  instant  the  private  had  his  bayonet  pointed  at  the  rebel's  breast. 

"  You  damned  reb,  surrender,  or  I'll  blow  you  to  hell ! " 

The  suddenness  of  Lilley's  appearance  and  attack  amidst  the  smoke  of  the  rifle 
fire  so  completely  unnerved  the  rebel  that  he  stammered  out : 

"  Yank,  for  God's  sake,  don't  shoot ! " 

Several  others  who  were  near  by  were  also  awed  by  Lilley's  sudden  appearance 
and  emphatic  command,  and  when  he  said :  "  Give  me  that  flag,  and  the  rest 
of  you  throw  down  your  guns,  or  I'll  make  you  think  hell  has  broke  loose,"  the 
color-bearer  and  his  companions  wilted  and  complied  with  his  request. 

Liiley  then  stepped  to  their  rear,  and,  with  the  captured  flag  in  hand,  said : 

"Now  march,  and  if  you  all  don't  keep  up  a  step  that  will  be  a  credit  to  you  and 
your  lost  cause,  I'll  fill  you  full  of  Yankee  lead ! " 

By  a  running  fire  of  his  choicest  cuss-words  Liiley  kept  the  men  going  at  a  lively 
gait  in  the  direction  of  the  fortification  last  captured,  when  presently  and  to  his 
surprise  he  found  that  there  was  not  a  Union  soldier  to  be  seen.  The  rebels,  too, 
noticed  the  absence  of  Union  soldiers,  took  courage,  stopped  and  refused  to  go  on. 


—  522  — 


"What?"  exclaimed  Lilley  raising  his  gun,  "You  think  you  can  monkey  with 
me?"  Here  Lilley  again  brought  into  play  his  whole  battery  of  oaths,  and  they 
rolled  from  his  mouth  with  such  ease  and  vehemence  that  this  fire  of  oaths  rather 
than  his  raised  rifle  cowed  the  poor  rebels  into  submission  and  they  again  sullenly 
resumed  the  march. 

" Now,"  said  Lilley,  "don't  you  damned  rebs  try  to  monkey  with  me  again,  or  by 
thunder  I'll  shoot  every  one  of  you !" 

This  last  speech  had  its  effect  upon  the  men  and  no  further  rupture  occurred  un 
til  they  had  gone  about  half  way  to  the  fort,  when  a  Union  officer,  coming  out  from 
his  shelter,  commanded  Lilley  to  hand  over  the  flag. 

"Like  hell  I  will!"  exclaimed  the  plucky  private,  suspecting  that  credit  for 
capturing  it  was  coveted  by  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  am  your  superior  officer  and  demand  that  flag,"  repeated  the  lieutenant,  with 
a  supercilious  air. 

Flushed  with  anger  and  losing  his  temper,  Lilley  pointed  his  gun  at  him  and 
said:  "I'll  be  damned  if  you  get  this  flag!"  and  without  further  ado  he  marched 
his  prisoners  past  the  lieutenant  to  the  fort,  where  he  turned  the  captured  trophy 
over  to  his  colonel.  He  was  about  to  make  a  little  speech  in  his  characteristic  fash 
ion,  but  the  colonel,  anticipating  a  flow  of  language  punctuated  with  choice  oaths, 
waved  his  hand  and  smilingly  said :  "  That's  all  right,  Lilley,  you're  a  brave  fellow ; 
you  are  relieved  from  duty  for  the  day  and  you  shall  be  otherwise  rewarded  for  your 
brave  conduct." 


SAVED   BY   HIS  HORSE 


T  N  THE  last  race  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  ending  at 
*  Appomattox,  Va.,  Sergeant  James  K.  Peirsol,  Company 
F,  Thirteenth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Cavalry,  was 
acting  as  sergeant-major  of  the  regiment  in  the  absence  of 
the  officer  holding  that  rank.  After  participating  in  the 
fr^  \  two  battles  of  Dinwiddie  Court  House  and  Five  Forks  this 

'^f^^^ss^^  regiment  with  the  rest  of  the  cavalry  swung  along  on  the 
Jl'i^.      ^  \^^    uJ   left  flank  of  Lee's  retreating  army  until  they  reached  Jet- 

tersville,  on  the  Richmond  &  Danville  Railroad,  forty-five 
miles  from  Petersburg.      Lee  was  then  at  Amelia  Court 
House,  a  few  miles  up  the  railroad  toward  Richmond. 
On  the  morning  of  April  5th,  General  Davies'  Brigade  of  cavalry  moved  over  to  a 


JAMES  K.  PEIRSOL, 

Sergeant,  Co.  F,  13th  Ohio  Cav. 
Bom  in  Pennsylvania, Sept.,  1843. 


Jettersville,  Va. — The  First  Brigade,  Second  Division  of  Sheridan's  Cavalry  Corps,  under  command  of 
General  Davies,  in  its  pursuit  of  Lee's  fleeing  army,  encountered  the  Confederates  on  the  morning  of  April 
6,  1865,  near  Jettersville,  Va.,  where  the  Union  forces  captured  a  wagon  train  and  a  battery  of  artillery. 
In  the  afternoon  this  brigade  again  went  into  action  to  repel  an  attempt  made  by  the  enemy  to  reach 
Jettersville  from  Amelia  Springs,  eight  miles  distant,  and  resisted  every  attack  made  by  the  enemy,  with 
but  small  loss. 


—  523  — 


road  farther  west  and  captured  some  wagons  and  a  battery  of  artillery  that  were 
moving  out  to  escape  on  that  road.  The  Confederates  attacked  him,  and  the 
Third  Brigade  of  the  division,  to 
which  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  be 
longed,  was  sent  to  his  assist 
ance.  After  reaching  the  field 
word  came  that  the  enemy  were 
advancing  on  Jettersville  by  way 
of  the  railroad.  The  Thirteenth, 
with  some  other  regiments,  was 
hurried  back  to  meet  this  attack. 
When  the  railroad  was  reached 
another  Federal  regiment  was 
formed  some  forty  rods  in  front. 
While  the  Thirteenth  was  form 
ing  its  line,  the  Confederate  cav 
alry  charged  from  a  woods  upon 
the  regiment  in  front.  It  scat 
tered  and  disappeared.  The  Thir 
teenth  was  ordered  to  counter 
charge,  and  was  followed  and 
supported  by  a  Pennsylvania  regi 
ment.  The  charge  was  made  with 
drawn  sabres  and  at  full  gallop, 
driving  the  enemy  into  the  woods 
and  along  the  dirt  road  parallel 
with  the  railroad,  where  Peirsol 
captured  a  fleeing  horseman  and 
sent  him  under  guard  to  the  rear. 
After  pursuing  the  rebels  for 
some  distance,  there  was  a  gen 
eral  slacking  up  for  the  purpose 
of  re-forming  the  line,  when 
Lieutenant  Hiram  Platt,  of  the 
Pennsylvania  regiment,  dashed 
up,  and  swinging  his  sword,  said  : 
"  Come  on  boys ;  we  can  drive 
them."  "  Well,"  said  Peirsol,  "I'll 
go  as  far  as  you  do."  Platt  was  accompanied  by  two  others  from  his  regiment  and 
Peirsol  by  two  from  the  Thirteenth.  Being  well  mounted,  they  soon  came  up  with 
the  still  fleeing  enemy  as  they  passed  out  of  the  woods  to  some  cleared  ground. 
Here  the  Confederates  left  the  road  and,  crossing  a  fence  to  the  left,  rode  to  a  little 


"FLINGING   HIMSELF   ON    THE    HORSE'S    NECK   TO    ESCAPE 
THE  WHIZZING   BULLETS." 


—  524  — 


knoll,  from  which  they  could  see  re-enforcements  coming  near  at  hand,  which 
stopped  their  retreat.  The  last  of  them  to  leave  the  road  and  leap  the  fence  was 
the  flag-bearer  of  an  Alabama  regiment.  He  was  immediately  followed  by  a  ser 
geant  of  the  Thirteenth  Ohio,  who  was  with  Peirsol  in  pursuit.  As  this  sergeant 
went  over  the  fence  his  horse  became  unmanageable  and  ran  away  with  him.  Spur 
ring  his  horse,  Peirsol  dashed  over  the  fence  and  overtook  the  flag-bearer  just  as 
the  latter  reached  his  comrades,  who  were  bunched  together  like  a  flock  of  sheep. 
Peirsol  dropped  the  reins  and  seized  the  flag-staff  with  his  left  hand,  raising  his 
sword  in  his  right  to  defend  himself  and  his  prize.  But  his  horse  fortunately  obviated 
the  necessity  for  further  strife  by  wheeling  and  plunging  furiously  down  the  hill, 
Peirsol  flinging  himself  on  to  the  horse's  neck  to  escape  the  whizzing  bullets  that 
flew  over  him.  As  they  went  over  the  fence  into  the  road  he  lost  his  stirrups. 
With  neither  rein  nor  stirrups  and  encumbered  with  the  flag  and  staff,  his  sabre 
and  swinging  carbine,  he  regained  the  shelter  of  the  timber. 

Two  days  later  in  a  charge  at  the  crossing  of  the  river  at  High  Bridge,  near 
Farmville,  Va.,  Peirsol  received  a  gunshot  wound,  but  refused  to  leave  the  regiment, 
and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Lee's  Army  on  the  9th  of  April  at  Appomattox. 
He  was  then  sent  with  the  flag  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  he  delivered  it  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and  was  rewarded  with  a  lieutenant's  commission  and  the  Medal 
of  Honor. 


"I'LL  STAY  WITH  YOU  TILL  YOU  ARE  SAFE" 


; '  T  OWE  my  life  to  the  undaunted  courage  and  the  persist 
ency  of  Sergeant  Stephen  E.  Chandler." 
This  statement  is  made  by  Corporal  Eugene  VanBuren, 
of  Company  A,  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Cavalry,  who 
thus  pays  a  splendid  tribute  to  the  sergeant  of  his  company, 
and  narrates  the  circumstances  of  the  rescue  as  follows  : 

"On  the  afternoon  of  April  5,  1865,  General  Sheridan, 
wishing  to  ascertain  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy,  ordered 
a  reconnoissance  in  the  direction  of  Paines  Cross  Roads. 
Our  brigade  was  selected  for  this  duty.  The  route  we  took 
led  us  through  a  wooded  country  which  was  considerably 
cut  up  by  hills  and  valleys,  and  near  Amelia  Springs,  the 
fashionable  summer  resort  of  the  south,  we  saw  from  the 
summit  of  a  hill  Lee's  wagon-train  in  the  distance. 

"  We  soon  found  a  cross-road  not  much  wider  than  a  bridle  path,  which  we 
followed  down  through  a  valley,  then  across  a  stream  and  up  the  hill  on  the  opposite 
side.  Just  as  we  neared  the  top  of  the  hill  we  ran  into  a  battery  of  five  new  Arm 
strong  guns  which  we  captured  before  they  could  fire  a  shot ;  and  at  the  summit  we 
found  the  wagon-train, 


STEPHEN  E.  CHAiNDLZR, 

Q.  M.-Sergt..  Co.  A,  24th  N.  Y.  Cav. 

Born  in  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich., 

Nov.  20, 1841. 


—  525  — 

"Flankers  were  sent  out  in  different  directions,  while  the  main  body  of  the 
brigade  '  went  through '  a  couple  of  miles  of  the  train.  Judging  from  appearances 
the  train  was  at  a  standstill  at  the  time  we  struck  it,  as  fires  were  burning  all  along 
the  line  with  skillets  and  frying  pans  on  them,  in  which  'hoe-cake'  and  other  kinds 
of  food  were  being  cooked  by  the  drivers  and  train  escort ;  but  all  was  abandoned 
in  their  hurry  to  escape.  Everything  in  sight  was  captured.  Orders  were  given  to 
fall  back  to  the  point  where  we  captured  the  battery  and  we  started  on  the  return 
march,  but  we  were  somewhat  hampered  by  our  prisoners,  a  few  of  our  men  who 
had  been  wounded  and  by  being  compelled  to  drag  along  the  captured  guns.  Our 
progress  was  retarded  to  such  an  extent  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  began  to  crowd 
us,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  form  a  line  of  battle  in  an  open  field  near  Amelia 
Springs. 

"  No  sooner  was  the  line  of  battle  formed  than  a  rebel  cavalry  division  made  its 
appearance,  and  when  at  a  distance  of  forty  rods  opened  fire.  In  the  subsequent 
fighting  quite  a  number  were  wounded,  among  them  Lieutenant-Colonel  Richards, 
who  commanded  our  regiment,  and  I.  Sergeant  Chandler's  horse  was  struck  in  the 
forehead  by  a  ball,  the  sergeant  himself  narrowly  escaping  death.  He  removed  his 
personal  effects  from  the  saddle  and  hastened  to  the  assistance  of  the  wounded 
colonel.  I  saw  him  and  said :  '  For  God's  sake,  Chan,  help  me  off  the  field.  I'm 
wounded  and  can't  walk.'  He  at  once  came  to  my  aid,  and  after  examining  my 
wound  said :  '  Let's  get  out  of  this  as  quickly  as  we  can  and  go  to  some  place 
where  we  can  get  help,  or  you'll  bleed  to  death.'  He  helped  me  to  my  feet  and  WTC 
started  for  the  rear.  About  this  time  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  fall  back  to  a 
new  position,  leaving  Chandler  and  me  between  the  fires.  The  bullets  flew  like  hail 
around  us.  'Chan,'  I  said,  'you  will  be  shot  or  taken  prisoner.  I've  got  my  death 
wound  anywray.  You'd  better  lay  me  down  and  save  yourself.' 

" '  I'll  never  do  that,'  his  reply  was.  '  No,  my  boy,  I'll  stay  with  you  till  you  are 
safe  or  we  both  go  down.' 

"  A  cavalry  regiment  of  the  enemy  attempted  to  charge  our  men  and  were  driven 
to  the  cover  of  the  woods.  Bullets  were  whistling  over  our  heads  and  around  us 
from  both  directions.  How  we  ever  escaped  being  riddled  is  more  than  I  can  tell. 
However,  we  struggled  along  slowly,  I  being  too  weak  to  go  any  faster.  After  much 
difficulty  we  finally  reached  the  rear,  where  the  regimental  surgeon  bandaged  my 
wound,  which  stopped  the  flow  of  blood  to  some  extent.  Just  then  our  men  were 
compelled  to  fall  back  once  more. 

"  Chandler  took  me  by  the  arm  and  helped  me  along  for  a  short  distance,  when  I 
became  so  greatly  exhausted  that  I  could  walk  no  farther.  I  despaired  completely. 
'  Chan,'  I  said  again,  '  go  on  now ;  save  yourself.  I  can't  hold  out  any  longer.'  I 
laid  down,  but  Chandler  remained  and  sat  down  at  my  side.  I  pleaded  with  him  to 
give  up  all  further  attempts  to  save  me  and  think  of  his  own  safety.  '  You've  done 
enough  for  me.  See  how  those  bullets  are  flying  again.  Protect  your  own  life  ;  I 
can't  live  anyway.' 


—527— 

"Just  then  a  cavalryman  whose  horse  was  played  out  came  along.  Chandler 
asked  him  to  let  him  have  the  animal  and  he  complied  cheerfully  :  '  You  can  have 
her,  certainly.  She's  played  out.  I  can  go  faster  on  foot.  Chandler  now  helped 
me  on  the  horse.  I  laid  down  over  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  and  thus  we  started 
along  at  a  slow  gait,  Chandler  constantly  urging  the  horse  forward.  Soon  after  we 
were  joined  by  Privates  John  Smith  and  George  Back,  of  our  company,  who  walked 
at  the  horse's  side  and  held  on  to  me,  while  Chandler  led  the  horse. 

"  The  enemy,  outnumbering  our  forces,  had  by  this  time  gotten  on  our  flank  and 
tried  to  cut  us  off,  keeping  up  a  terrific  fire.  Chandler  found  a  stretcher,  I  can't 
remember  where,  and  I,  being  then  too  weak  to  ride  any  farther,  was  placed  on  it 
and  carried,  Chandler  keeping  up  the  courage  of  his  comrades  by  joking  about  the 
poor  marksmanship  of  the  Johnnies. 

"Passing  a  farm  barn  they  found  an  old  buggy.  Again  I  was  removed  and  placed 
in  the  vehicle,  so  that  I  lay  flat  on  my  back  with  my  feet  dangling  down  at  the 
rear. 

"They  were  about  to  start  off  with  me,  hauling  the  buggy  by  hand,  when 
Chandler,  who  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  for  my  comfort,  obtained  a  horse  from  a 
wounded  cavalryman.  Securing  a  collar  and  a  pair  of  names  from  the  barn  he 
hitched  the  animal  to  the  wagon  by  means  of  pieces  of  rope  used  for  traces. 

"By  this  time  the  rebels  were  close  upon  us.  They  shouted ' Halt !'  and  fired  at 
us,  but  Chandler  set  the  improvised  though  none  too  comfortable  ambulance  in 
motion  and  off  we  started,  over  ditches  and  across  fields,  as  fast  as  the  horse  could 
travel,  the  boys  at  some  places  where  we  were  going  down  hill  hanging  to  the 
buggy  to  keep  it  off  the  horse's  heels. 

"  In  this  manner  we  soon  reached  a  place  of  safety,  where  I  found  proper  medi 
cal  care  and  treatment.  I  certainly  owe  my  life  to  the  courage  and  persistency  of 
my  brave  sergeant." 


Leo's  Surrender.— On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  April,  after  the  fall  of  Petersburg,  the  flight  of  the 
Confederate  army  and  its  pursuit  began  about  the  same  time.  Lee  pushed  toward  Amelia  Court  House, 
Sheridan  pushed  for  the  Danville  Road,  keeping  near  the  Appomattox  River,  followed  by  Meade  with  the 
Second  and  Sixth  Corps,  while  Ord  moved  for  Burkeville  along  the  South  Side  Road;  the  Ninth  Corps 
stretched  along  the  road  behind  him.  On  the  4th  Sheridan  struck  the  Danville  Road  near  Jettersville, 
where  he  learned  that  Lee  was  at  Amelia  Court  House.  He  immediately  entrenched  himself  and  awaited 
the  arrival  of  General  Meade,  who  reached  there  next  day.  General  Ord  reached  Burkeville  on  the  evening 
of  the  5th.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  it  was  found  that  Lee  was  moving  west  of  Jettersville  toward  Danville. 
Sheridan  moved  with  his  cavalry  to  strike  his  flank,  followed  by  the  Sixth  Corps,  while  the  Second  and 
Fifth  pressed  hard  after,  forcing  him  to  abandon  several  hundred  wagons  and  several  pieces  of  artillery. 
General  Ord  advanced,  in  the  meantime  from  Burkeville  toward  Farmville,  where  Loo's  column  was  de 
tained  by  General  Read  with  a  small  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry.  In  the  afternoon  Sheridan  struck  the 
enemy  south  of  Sailors'  Creek,  and  detained  him  until  the  Sixth  Corps  got  up,  when  a  general  attack  was 
made,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  6,000  prisoners. 

Lee's  chances  of  escape  were  now  growing  less  and  less,  and  on  the  7th  Grant  opened  communication 
with  him,  but  while  Grant  was  awaiting  a  reply,  Lee  kept  up  his  retreat  and  thus  gained  a  night's  march. 
On  the  8th  Grant  continued  the  pursuit.  Sheridan  gained  Appomattox  Station  and  cut  off  Lee's  supplies, 
as  well  as  his  way  of  escape,  and  on  the  9th  General  Lee  requested  a  suspension  of  hostilities  and  an 
interview  with  Grant,  which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  Lee's  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 


—  528  - 


EDWARD  P.  TOBIE, 

Sergeant-Major,  1st  Me.  Cav. 

Born  at  Lewiston.  Me., 

March  IN.  1S38. 


FRANCIS  M.  CUNNINGHAM, 

First  Sergeant,  Co.  H,  1st  \V.  Va. 

Vet.  Cav. 

Born  in  Somerset  Co.,  Pa., 
Dec.  21,1837. 


HARRIS   S.  HAWTHORN, 

Private, Co.  F,  121st  N.  Y.  Inf. 
Bom  at  Salem,  N.  Y.,  1832. 


HUMOR,   PERSISTENCY,   GALLANTRY 

"  COR  §ix  days  we  had 
been  pounding 
at  the  rebels  and  for 
six  days  they  had  been 
pounding  at  us,"  says 
Sergeant  Francis  Mar 
ion  Cunningham  of  Co. 
H,  First  West  Virginia 
Cavalry.  "  In  fact,  the 
pounding  seemed  to  be 
one  of  the  most  popu 
lar  pastimes.  It  was 
on  the  afternoon  of 
April  6th  that  we  again 
came  up  with  them  in 
a  strong  position  on  the  thickly  wooded  banks  of  Sailor's  Creek.  They  were  behind 
rude  fortifications  and  the  thick  growth  of  underbrush  kept  their  numbers  concealed 
from  us.  We  didn't  know  how  many  rebels  there  were  in  those  ditches  until 
we  charged.  Then  we  got  the  information  in  the  most  convincing  manner  all  along 
our  line.  I  was  one  of  the  men  lowered  to  terra  firma  swiftly,  my  fine  black  charger 
being  killed  under  me.  We  were  repulsed,  and  as  we  fell  back  over  logs  and  inter 
leaving  vines,  the  rebel  volleys  continued  thinning  out  the  ranks.  Men  and  beasts 
were  floundering  together  in  the  dense  thicket. 

"I  groped  about  with  my  eyes  blinded  with  the  smoke  and  fortunately  bumped 
squarely  into  a  phlegmatic  mule  with  a  Confederate  saddle  on.  He  was  taking  in 
the  scenery  in  the  most  nonchalant  manner  and  modifying  the  ennui  of  the  situa 
tion  by  actually  grazing  there  in  that  screaming  pandemonium  of  exploding  shells. 

"His  saddle  was  slippery  with  the  life-blood  of  some  luckless  'reb'  who  had  fallen 
beneath  one  of  our  scattering  volleys.  There  wasn't  much  time  to  talk  the  thing 
over  with  the  mule.  I  mounted  him  and  hurried  back  through  the  woods  to  the 
clearing,  where  our  forces  were  rallying. 

"  In  going  back  through  the  woods  I  made  several  observations  pertinent  to  the 
disposition  and  qualifications  of  that  mule.  Of  all  his  shining  attainments  two  stood 


Sailor's  Creek. — When  Richmond  fell  Lee's  only  chance  lay  in  escape.  He  had  ordered  rations  sent  to 
Amelia  Court  House,  but  when  his  retreating  troops  arrived  there  on  the  4th  of  April  they  found  no  food, 
and  were  compelled  to  forage  through  the  already  devastated  country  for  nearly  twenty-four  hours.  On 
the  night  of  the  5th  Lee  made  a  new  start  from  Amelia  Court  House  in  an  endeavor  to  escape  Grant  and 
set  out  for  Lynchburg.  Continual  fighting  ensued  en  route  on  the  6th,  but  Lee  suffered  his  greatest  loss 
at  Sailor's  Creek,  when  Sheridan  broke  into  his  fugitive  lines,  captured  Ewell's  Corps  and  routed  Gordon 
and  his  men  in  utter  confusion.  The  Federal  losses  were  1,200  killed  and  wounded ;  the  Confederate 
losses,  7,000  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners. 


—  529  — 


out  as  conspicuously  as  his  ears.     He  could  run  very  fast  and  I  think  he  must  have 
broken  his  own  record  while  I  rode  him. 

"  He  could  jump  like  a  steeplechaser  and  he  seemed  rather  to  prefer  taking  a  four- 
foot  stump  to  passing  around  it. 

"Just  as  I  reached  the  rallying  troops  the  bugle  sounded  'Charge'  again  and  back 
we  went  at  those  breastworks  over  stumps  and 
through  drooping  branches.     It  took  my  mule 
just  about  four  jumps  to  show  that  in  an 
obstacle  race  he  could  outclass  all  others. 
He  laid  back  his  ears  and  frisked  over 
logs  and  flattened  out  like  a  jackrabbit, 
when  he  had  a  chance  to  sprint. 
Soon     I     was 
ahead,  far  ahead 


! 


1  SWITCHED   HIS  TAIL  AND  SAILED   RIGHT  OVER  AMONG  THE   REBS ." 

of  the  rest  of  the  boys.  That  mule  never  even  stopped  when  he  came  to  the  breast 
works.  He  switched  his  tail  and  sailed  right  over  among  the  rebs,  landing  near  a 
rebel  color-bearer  of  the  Twelfth  Virginia  Infantry. 

"  About  all  that  I  can  remember  of  what  followed  was. that  the  mule  and  I  went 
after  him.  The  color-bearer  was  a  big  brawny  chap  and  he  put  up  a  game  fight. 
But  that  mule  had  some  new  side  steps  and  posterior  upper-cuts  that  put  the  reb 
out  of  the  game, 


—  530  — 

"A  sabre  slash  across  the  right  arm  made  him  drop  his  colors  and  I  grabbed  them 
before  they  touched  the  ground." 

The  foregoing  incident,  humorously  told  by  Sergeant  Cunningham,  was  witnessed 
by  General  Custer,  who  was  so  delighted  with  the  plucky  cavalryman's  valorous  deed 
that  he  at  once  placed  him  on  his  staff,  and  later  recommended  him  for  the  Medal 
of  Honor.  During  his  encounter  with  the  color-bearer,  Sergeant  Cunningham  was 
severely  dealt  with  by  rebels  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  who  succeeded  in  wounding 
him  twice  before  he  captured  the  rebel  colors. 


Sergeant-Major  Edward  P.  Tobie's  devotion  to  duty  is  exemplified  by  his  conduct 
on  the  6th  of  April  at  Sailor's  Creek  and  on  the  7th  at  Farmville. 

Lieutenant  T.  Little,  adjutant  of  the  First  Maine  Cavalry,  was  wounded  in  the 
first  charge  of  General  Smith's  Third  Brigade  on  the  6th,  and  shortly  after  his  suc 
cessor,  Lieutenant  J.  W.  Poor,  met  a  like  fate,  whereupon  Colonel  Cilly  detailed 
Sergeant  Tobie  to  assume  the  duties  of  adjutant.  Just  as  the  regiment  started  on 
the  final  charge  that  day  which  resulted  so  disastrously  for  the  enemy  a  bullet 
pierced  Tobie's  foot  and  threw  him  to  the  ground.  With  great  difficulty  he  hobbled 
to  the  rear,  but  upon  recovering  his  horse,  which  had  been  caught  by  the  colonel's 
orderly,  he  mounted  it  and  started  for  the  field  hospital,  where  he  had  his  wound 
bandaged.  The  surgeon  advised  him  to  stay  in  the  rear,  but  finding  his  wound  not 
to  be  serious  he  rejoined  his  regiment,  reaching  it  in  time  to  go  on  a  scout  through 
the  woods.  The  regiment  was  on  the  march  early  next  day,  the  plucky  sergeant 
with  it,  and  though  his  foot  pained  him  greatly  he  did  not  hesitate  and  stay  behind 
when  the  charge  into  the  village  of  Farmville  was  made.  He  rode  at  the  front  of 
the  second  battalion  with  Major  Hall,  and  dashing  through  the  village  put  to  rout 
a  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  In  this  charge  Sergeant  Tobie  was  again  wounded, 
the  bullet  passing  through  his  leg,  killing  his  horse ;  but  upon  finding  that  the 
wound  was  not  serious,  he  had  it  bandaged  and  a  second  time  rejoined  his  regiment, 
having  in  the  meantime  procured  another  horse.  That  night  found  him  with  his 
regiment  on  its  march  to  Appomattox,  where  for  a  third  time  he  was,  in  a  wounded 
condition,  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

The  One  hundred  and  twenty-first  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  took  an  active 
part  in  the  repulse  of  General  E well's  forces  when  they  were  endeavoring  to  recap 
ture  the  wagon  train  Custer  had  taken  only  a  few  hours  before,  and  one  of  its 
members,  Private  Harris  S.  Hawthorn,  of  Company  F,  greatly  distinguished  himself 
in  the  charge  by  capturing,  single-handed,  General  Custis  Lee.  Because  of  the  con 
spicuous  nature  of  this  capture  Colonel  Egbert  Olcott,  commanding  the  regiment, 
detailed  Hawthorn  as  one  of  the  men  to  conduct  the  noted  rebel  general  to  the 
headquarters  of  General  Wheaton. 

"  See  the  Johnnies  down  there  ! "  "  Why  doesn't  the  bugle  sound  the  '  Charge '  ? " 
"  You'll  hear  it  soon  enough."  These  were  some  of  the  remarks  passed  along  the 


—  531  — 


CHARLES   A.  TAGGART, 

Private,  Co.  B.:i7th  Mass.  Inf. 

Born  at  North  Blanford, 

Mass.,  Jan.  17, 1843. 


LLEWELLYN   P.   NORTON, 

Sergt.,  co.  L,  10th  N.  Y.  Cav. 
Highest  rank  attained  : 

Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Born  at  Scott,  N.  Y.,  May  11, 

1837. 


HUGH  P.  BOON, 

Capt.,  Co.  B,  1st  W.  Va.  Cav. 

Born  at  Washington,  Pa., 

July  28,  1834. 


line  as  Ouster's  men 
stood '  to  horse '  at  Sail 
or's  Creek  on  the  morn 
ing  of  April  6,  1865, 
and  saw  the  enemy 
throw  up  breastworks 
of  logs,  rails  and  earth. 

"Boys,  you'll  hear 
that  bugle  soon 
enough,"  said  Captain 
Hugh  P.  Boon,  of  Com 
pany  B,  First  West 
Virginia  Cavalry,  and 
soon  the  command 
came :  "  Mount,  right 
dress,  forward  march." 

"When  about  400  yards  from  the  enemy's  position,"  says  Captain  Boon,  "the 
bugle  sounded  the  charge,  and  away  we  went.  When  our  line  had  reached  the 
enemy's  works  I  saw  a  battalion  of  their  infantry  a  short  distance  to  the  right,  and 
my  command  being  on  the  extreme  right  I  wheeled  it  out  of  line  and  charged  the 
rebels.  In  the  clash  that  followed  I  cut  down  the  color-bearer  and  captured  the 
colors  of  the  Tenth  Georgia  Infantry  ;  but  I  admit  I  felt  scared  when  I  realized  what 
I  had  done.  Had  I  failed  in  checking  and  routing  this  rebel  battalion  I  should,  in 
all  probability,  have  been  cashiered  and  dishonorably  dismissed  the  service  for  leav 
ing  the  line  of  battle. 

"  But  my  action  had  been  witnessed  by  one  of  the  superior  officers,  who  judged 
that  I  had  acted  correctly." 

When  General  Davies'  Brigade  made  a  mounted  charge  on  the  enemy's  breast 
works,  Sergeant  Llewellyn  P.  Norton,  of  Company  L,  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry, 
leaped  his  horse  over  the  embankment  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  enter  the  Confed 
erate  works.  The  onslaught  was  terrific  and  many  of  the  enemy  threw  down 
their  weapons  and  surrendered,  while  others  ran  to  the  rear.  Sergeant  Norton 
pushed  on  in  an  effort  to  capture  all  the  retreating  rebels  possible  and  soon  came 
upon  a  detachment  of  six  men  working  at  a  gun  in  a  ravine  about  one  hundred 
yards  distant  from  General  Ewell  and  his  staff.  Thinking  that  the  men  were 
attempting  to  spike  the  piece  before  retreating  and  that  he  might  save  it  to  the 
Union  forces,  he  rode  boldly  toward  them  and  ordered  them  to  surrender.  One  of 
the  men  ran,  but  the  remaining  five,  seizing  their  muskets  with  bayonets  fixed,  pre 
pared  to  meet  the  assault  of  the  brave  cavalryman.  With  one  upward  stroke  of  his 
sabre  he  disarmed  two  of  his  antagonists,  and  before  they  could  recover  themselves 
he  struck  them  to  the  ground. 

At  this  juncture  Corporal  Andrew  Bringle,  of  Co.  F,  came  to  his  assistance  and 


—  532- 


the  rebels  laid  down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  Bringle  then  took  them  to  the 
rear,  while  Norton  stood  guard  over  the  gun  until  after  dark,  wThen  a  team  from 
General  Davies'  headquarters  came  after  the  piece  and  drew  it  off  the  field. 

Sergeant  Norton  was  promoted  to  sergeant-major  and  brevetted  first  lieutenant, 
and  he  and  Bringle  were  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor. 

Singular  in  the  records  of  the  Medal  of  Honor  is  the  fact  that  Sergeant  Norton's 
medal  could  not  be  presented  to  him  until  May,  1888,  although  it  had  been  awarded 
July  5,  1865.  This  happened  because  Norton's  whereabouts  after  being  mustered 
out  could  not  be  learned  by  the  War  Department.  Only  by  mere  chance  Norton  saw 
in  Appleton's  Cyclopedia  that  he  was  rewarded  with  a  Medal  of  Honor,  and  prompt 
inquiry  brought  the  much  coveted  decoration. 

During  a  lull  in  the  desperate  hand-to-hand  struggle  of  this  memorable  day, 
Private  Charles  A.  Taggart,  of  Company  B,  Thirty-seventh  Massachusetts  Infantry, 
stepped  out  about  twenty  paces  to  the  front  of  his  regiment  and  up  a  slight  rise 
of  ground,  from  which  place  he  saw  a  squad  of  about  twenty  rebels  in  a  low,  pro 
tected  spot  firing  on  the  men  to  his  right.  Taking  shelter  behind  a  tree  near  by  he 
fired  several  shots  into  their  midst,  when  to  his  surprise  he  observed  a  rebel  flag 
among  them.  Immediately  he  started  for  their  color-bearer,  demanding  the  sur 
render  of  the  flag,  which  he  grasped,  and  in  the  struggle  for  its  possession  he  found 
himself  assisted  by  another  Union  man,  who  had  also  seen  the  colors  and  who  was  in 
tent  upon  their  capture.  The  two  wrested  them  from  the  rebel,  but  Taggart's  comrade 
was  shot  down,  while  he,  taking  advantage  of  an  opening,  rushed  back  with  the  colors 
into  the  Union  lines.  Unfortunately  the  Federals  took  him  for  a  leader  of  a  rebel 
charge  and  it  was  miraculous  that  he  escaped  with  but  one  slight  wound  on  his  right 
leg. 


A  NOBLE  SACRIFICE 


WILLIAM  LUDGATE, 

Capt.,  Co.  G,  59th  N.  Y.  Vet.  Vols. 
Highest  rank  att'd:  Bvt.-Maj. 
Born  in  London,  Eng.,  in  1837. 


CAPTAIN  William   Ludgate,  of   Co.  G,  Fifty-ninth  New 
York  Veteran  Volunteers,  was  a  prisoner  of  war  for 
a  period  of  two  days.     He  was  captured  in  the  vicinity  of 
Farmville,  Va.,  April  7th,  and  released  April  9th,  when  Lee 
surrendered  his  army. 

The  occasion  on  which  Captain  Ludgate  lost  his  liberty 
was  a  fight  near  a  railroad  bridge,  two  miles  from  Farm 
ville.  General  Barlow,  commanding  the  First  Brigade, 
Second  Division,  Second  Army  Corps,  asked  for  an  officer 


Farmville,  Va. — During  the  pursuit  of  Lee's  Army  General  Ord  advanced  from  Burkeville  toward  Farm 
ville,  sending  two  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  under  Brevet  Brigadier-General  Theodore 
Read,  to  reach  and  destroy  the  bridges.  This  advance  met  the  head  of  Lee's  column  near  Farmville,  which 
it  heroically  attacked  and  detained  until  General  Read  was  killed  and  his  small  force  overpowered.  This 
caused  a  delay  in  the  enemy's  movements,  and  enabled  General  Ord  to  get  well  up  with  his  force. 


—  533  — 


to  volunteer  with  a  small  squad  of  men  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  burning  the 
railroad  bridge,  as  it  was  to  serve  the  Union  troops  as  a  means  of  crossing  the  river. 

Captain  Ludgate  volunteered  for  the  duty  and  selected  Lieutenant  Bigley  and 
twelve  men  from  his  company  to  go  with  him. 

"After  marching  for  about  two  miles,''  the  captain  narrates,  "we  came  in  sight 
of  the  railroad  bridge.  Owing  to  the  steep  bank,  about  twenty  feet  high  on  either 
side,  I  could  not  see  anything  of  the  enemy,  and  ordered  my  men  to  proceed  to  the 
bridge  at  a  double-quick.  Just  then  my  attention  was  called  to  a  Union  soldier 
some  distance  away  who  was  waving  his  flag  frantically  as  a  signal  for  us  to  return. 
The  signal  came  too  late,  for  the  enemy  had  already  opened  fire  from  their  protected 
position  on  the  steep  bank.  Our  men  were  completely  taken  by  surprise,  wavered 
and  were  about  to  retreat,  when  I  managed  to  reassure  and  rally  them. 

"  Some  of  the  rebels,  bolder  than  the  others,  ran  down  the  embankment  to  the 
ravine  where  we  were,  eager  to  make  the  capture  of  our  small  squad.  They  met 
with  disappointment ;  we  captured  every  one  of  them.  I  then  ordered  my  men  to 
the  top  of  the  embankment  and  opened  a  fierce  fire  on  the  Confederates.  Although 
we  were  finally  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  a  force  ten  times  larger  than  our  own, 
my  men  stood  their  ground  with  heroic  courage,  never  yielding  an  inch,  making 
every  shot  tell  and  compelled  to  give  in  only  when  the  last  round  of  ammunition 
was  expended.  Then  we  surrendered,  to  be  set  free  again  two  days  later." 


CAPTURE   OF   FORT   BLAKELY 


LOYD  WHEATON, 

Lieut.-Col.,8th  Illinois  Inf. 

Highest  rank  attained: 

Major-Gen.,  U.S.  V. 

Bom  in  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich., 

July  15, 1838. 


CORT  BLAKELY,  Ala.,  was  a  place  inclosed 
by  a  line  of  works  about  two  miles  ia 
extent,  composed  of  redoubts  constructed 
of  earth  and  timber,  with  ditches  in  front, 
which  redoubts  connected  by  continuous 
rifle  pits  with  salients  and  stockade  work, 
making  a  continuous  line  from  the  Con 
federates'  left,  on  the  Tensas  River,  to  their 
right,  which  rested  on  an  impassable  swamp 
and  thicket.  The  two  principal  avenues 
of  approach  were  known  as  the  Stockton 
and  Pensacola  Roads.  The  redoubts  com 
manded  the  ground  in  their  front,  and  had 
an  enfilading  fire  on  portions  of  the  roads 


HENRY  C.  MERRIAM, 

Lieut.-Colonel,  73d  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Highest  rank  attained: 

Major-Gen.,  U.  S.  A. 
Born  in  Maine,  Nov.  13,  1837. 


and  a  cross-fire  on  almost  every  point  of  them  within  the  range  of  their  guns.    Three 

Fort  Blakely. — The  investment  of  FortBlakely  and  Spanish  Fort,  Ala.,  was  completed  on  the  5th  of  April, 
1865,  and  was  carried  on  until  the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  when  a  concerted  assault  was  made  on  Blakely  by 
seven  divisions  under  command  of  General  R.  S.  Canby,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  numerous  flags, 
all  the  armament,  material  and  supplies,  and  3,700  prisoners,  three  of  whom  were  generals,  and  197  com 
missioned  officers  of  lower  grade.  Prior  to  this  assault,  Spanish  Fort  was  attacked  and  when  it  fell  the 
Confederates,  under  cover  of  darkness,  escaped  to  Blakely  and  Mobile. 


-534  — 


marshy  ravines,  entering  the  works  at  different  points,  were  obstructed  by  fallen 
timber  and  traversed  by  stockades  which  connected  with  the  rifle  pits  on  the  other 
side.  The  fortifications  were  mounted  with  heavy  and  light  guns.  Three  lines  of 
abatis  encircled  the  works,  and  outside  of  these  were  rifle  pits  for  sharpshooters. 

After  a  short  siege  this  fort  was  assaulted  and  carried  on  the  9th  of  April,  1865. 
The  time  for  the  assault  was  set  for  5:30  in  the  afternoon. 
Precisely  at  that  hour  Lieutenant-Colonel  Victor  Vif- 
quain,  commanding  the  Ninety-seventh  Illinois  In 
fantry,  gave  the  command  :     "  Forward,  Ninety- 
seventh  ! "  and  with   irresistible  dash  they  ad 
vanced  and  sprang  with  him  over  the  para 
pet,  with  loud  cheers  charging  the  line  as 
skirmishers  upon  the  enemy.     Colonel 
Vifquain  made  for  the  rebel  battle- 
flag  on  the  works,  with   his  color- 
company  at  his  heels,  and  being 
the  first  man  upon  the  works 
immediately  cut  the  halyard 
with  his  sword  and  pulled  it 
down,  while  his  color- 
bearer  planted  the 
Union  flag  be 
side  the  rebel     jfl 
staff.     For  a 
moment  Vif 
quain    was 
hidden  by the 
folds   of  the 
victorious 
banner  min 
gling  with 
those  of   the 
rebel    stand 
ard  and  when 
he  had  freed 
himself  from 
their  folds  he 
found  his  brave  color-bearer  lying  by  his  side  pierced  with  a  bullet. 

The  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  commanded  and  led  on  the  right  wing  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Loyd  Wheaton,  in  its  assault  upon  the  works  dashed  up  the  salient,  from 
which  a  constant  and  fierce  fire  of  artillery  was  kept  up  from  a  number  of  pieces,  and 
about  five  minutes  after  the  charge  commenced  the  regiment  ascended  the  parapet 


ENTERED  THE  EMBRASURE  OF  A  30-POUNDER  PARROTT  GUN. 


—  535  — 


HENRY  C.  NICHOLS, 

Captain,  Co.  E,  73d  U.  S.  C.T. 

Born  at  Brandon,  Vt.,  April 

20,  1832. 


of  the  rebel  works.  Its  brave  colonel  entered  the  embrasure  of  a  thirty-pounder 
Parrott  gun,  accompanied  by  Sergeant  Switzer  of  Company  B,  and  was  the  first  man 
of  the  regiment  to  enter  the  enemy's  works.  The  firing  of  the  guns  was  at  an  end 
as  soon  as  he  made  his  appearance,  but  the  rebel  infantry 
tried  hard  to  maintain  their  ground  and  their  fire  was 
murderous. 

"In  front  of  my  regiment,  the  Seventy-third  U.  S.  Col 
ored  Infantry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Merriam  commanding," 
says  Captain  Henry  C.  Nichols,  of  Company  C,  "  was  the 
enemy's  outer  works — an  abatis — and  at  the  roots  of  the 
trees  of  which  the  abatis  was  formed  was  a  line  of  rifle  pits 
occupied  by  the  enemy  for  the  protection  of  the  fort,  on 
which  were  mounted  six  heavy  guns,  and  two  mortars  in 
the  rear.  Between  our  pits  and  the  abatis  was  a  muddy 
ravine  with  a  small  brook  at  the  bottom,  a  sharp  descent 
from  our  pits  to  the  brook,  then  a  plain,  gradually  ascend 
ing  to  the  fort.  About  five  o'clock,  Colonel  Merriam 

ordered  an  assault  on  the  outer  works  by  four  companies,  which  was  made  in  fine 
style,  driving  the  enemy  into  their  main  works. 

"  The  fire  from  the  fort  was  terrific,  and  was  kept  up  after  the  assault,  in  an 
attempt  to  dislodge  our  men  who  were  lying  down  on  our  side  of  the  abatis,  quite 
exposed.  It  was  at  this  time  that  I  volunteered  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  the 
colonel  wishing  to  know  the  nature  of  the  ground  he  was  about  to  charge  over.  I 
ran  down  into  the  ravine  and  reaching  the  left  of  the  abatis  stopped  to  get  my 

breath.  After  resting  about  a  minute  I  climbed  into  the 
branches  of  a  tree  and  surveyed  the  field  with  my  glasses. 
I  found  the  ground  favorable  for  the  assault,  and  returning 
to  my  command  on  a  run  reported  to  this  effect  to  the 
colonel. 

"  Colonel  Merriam  then  obtained  permission  to  charge 
the  main  works — the  fort — and  made  the  assault,  followed 
five  or  ten  minutes  later  by  the  rest  of  the  colored  division, 
capturing  the  works  on  a  run.  The  ground  we  traversed 
and  which  I  had  explored  had  been  planted  with  torpedoes, 
but  this  arrangement  of  the  enemy  I  was  not  able  to  detect 
while  on  my  reconnoissance." 

Captain  Samuel  McConnell,  of  Company  H,  One  hun 
dred  and  nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  tells  in  the  following 
interesting  manner  how  he  captured  a  Confederate  flag  in  this  battle : 

"I  had  orders  to  lead  the  regiment  with  my  company,  our  formation  for  the 
assault  being  in  double  rank,  one  rank  about  six  paces  behind  the  other,  with  the 
line  of  battle  coming  up  fifty  paces  in  the  rear. 


SAMUEL  McCONNEL, 
Captain,  Co.  H,  119th  111.  Inf. 


—  536  — 

"In  this  order  we  advanced  against  the  fort,  the  bullets  and  shells  mowing  down 
our  companions  with  merciless  precision.  My  clothing  was  cut  in  several  places 
by  bullets,  and  when  I  reached  the  breastworks  I  had  only  one  man  of  my  company, 
Private  Wagner,  writh  me.  The  others  went  over  a  little  distance  away  from  us. 
At  the  point  where  we  reached  the  breastworks  was  an  angle  containing  three  large 

guns,  which  were  dealing  out  death  at  an  alarming  rate, 
and  making  the  atmosphere  so  smoky  that  we  could  see  for 
only  a  short  distance.  Nevertheless  wye  at  once  began  to 
scale  the  breast  work,  and  had  almost  reached  the  top  when 
the  guns  were  run  out  for  another  discharge.  We  were 
so  close  to  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  that  when  they  were 
discharged  the  air  pressure  thus  created  knocked  us  back 
into  the  ditch.  But  we  immediately  sprang  up  and  man 
aged  to  climb  over  the  works  before  the  rebels  could  reload. 
"Seeing  us  come  over  the  breastwork,  the  gunners 
turned  and  fled,  and  some  surrendered,  leaving  us  in  undis- 

THOMAS  H.  L.  PAYNE. 

1st  Lieut. -Quartermaster,  pUtCd.  pOSSCSSlOn. 

Highest  rank  attaint:  capt.  "  We  started  to  our  left  and  soon  came  in  rear  of  what 

BO"™  at  Boston,  Mass.  Oct.          seemed  to  be  a   color-guard   with  a  flag.     When  within 

about  thirty  paces  they  faced  about  and  fired  on  us,  but  their  shots  missed.  I  then 
fired  the  last  shot  from  my  revolver,  hitting  the  color-bearer,  and  as  the  rest  fled, 
rushed  up  and  captured  the  colors. 

"Down  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  I  was  decorated  with  the  Medal  of  Honor  in  the  presence 
of  my  regiment  in  front  of  General  Smith's  headquarters,  and  I  enjoy  the  pleasant 
sensations  of  that  day  yet." 

First  Lieutenant  Thomas  H.  L.  Payne,  quartermaster  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Illinois 
Infantry,  not  wishing  to  remain  behind  during  the  assault  on  the  fort,  asked  to  be 
assigned  to  the  command  of  Company  B,  which  was  without  a  commissioned  officer. 
He  says : 

"  When  the  bugle  sounded  we  rose  out  of  our  rifle  pits.  Having  advanced  our 
lines  the  preceding  night,  we  were  about  five  hundred  yards  from  the  fort,  and 
before  the  rebels  could  depress  their  guns  sufficiently  to  train  them  upon  us  we 
had  pressed  forward  and  were  well  across  the  open  space,  had  reached  the  fort  and 
were  climbing  as  best  we  could  upon  it. 

"We  had  to  climb  over  lines  of  brush  and  trees  piled  very  high  and  then 
across  a  wide,  deep,  dry  moat,  filled  with  brush,  before  we  could  get  a  foothold 
on  the  works.  All  the  ground  over  which  we  charged  was  covered  with  hidden 
torpedoes,  making  it  doubly  dangerous.  I  struck  out  for  a  corner  of  the  earth 
works,  shouting,  'This  way,  Company  B!'  and  luckily  found  a  place  where  a 
fallen  tree  formed  a  foot-bridge  across  the  moat.  I  crossed  upon  this  and  a 
few  of  my  company  followed.  In  a  minute  I  found  myself  inside  the  works 
within  a  few  feet  of  a  number  of  Confederate  gunners.  I  ordered  them  to 


—  537  — 

surrender  as  the  boys  came  rushing  along,  and  they  actually  seemed  glad  to  do  so. 
I  think  that  perhaps  for  a  couple  of  minutes  I  was  the  only  man  of  our  regiment 
upon  or  within  the  works. 

"  As  our  color-bearer,  Sergeant  Morrell,  could  not  get  upon  the  works,  I  took  the 
flag  from  him,  planted  it  on  the  side  of  the  fort  and  held  it  until  he  climbed  up,  and 
thus  the  flag  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Illinois  was  the  first  on  the  fort." 


BOLD   CAPTURE   OF  THE    BRIDGE 


"\  \  /"E  LEFT  Gravelly  Springs,  Ala.,  some  time  about  the  mid- 
^  »  t|ie  Of  March,  1865,  on  the  Wilson  Raid  in  pursuit  of 
General  Forrest,"  Private  Richard  H.  Cosgriff,  of  Company  L, 
Fourth  Iowa  Cavalry,  narrates,  "  and  overtook  him  at  Selma, 
Ala.  After  a  brisk  engagement  we  drove  him  from  there  to 
Montgomery  and  thence  to  Columbus,  Ga.,  on  the  Chattahoochee 
River,  where  he  fortified  himself. 

"There  were  three  bridges  across  the  river.  Forrest  had 
burned  two  of  them,  leaving  one  for  the  use  of  his  army,  in 
case  of  retreat,  as  part  of  his  force  was  on  the  Alabama  side  of 
the  river,  intrenched  opposite  Columbus. 

"  The  remaining  bridge  was  a  wooden  affair,  covered  with 
a  partition  running  through  it  lengthwise.  The  Alabama  side, 
on  which  we  were  posted,  was  protected  by  earthworks  manned 
by  infantry.  At  the  Columbus  end  two  pieces  of  artillery  were  planted  to  prevent 
a  capture  by  our  troops,  while  the  structure  itself  was  guarded  by  about  150  men 
and  piled  with  inflammable  material,  ready  to  be  fired. 

"  We  arrived  opposite  Columbus  on  the  night  of  April  16th,  and  commenced  an 
attack  on  the  earthworks  at  the  left  of  the  bridge.  Our  object  was  to  cross  the 
river  to  Columbus,  and  in  order  to  do  so  it  was  necessary  to  first  capture  the  bridge. 
This  had  to  be  done  by  surprising  the  sentinels  who  guarded  it,  for  should  we  have 
carried  the  earthworks  first  they  would  have  set  fire  to  the  bridge  at  once  and  thus 
block  our  game. 

"  About  ten  o'clock  that  night  General  Wilson  called  for  two  hundred  volunteers 
to  make  an  assault  and  I  stepped  into  line  with  those  who  responded  to  the  call. 


RICHARD  H.  COSGRIFF, 

Private,  Co.  L,  4th  Iowa  Cav. 

Born  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y., 

1845. 


Wilson's  Raid.— In  March,  1865,  two  well  equipped  cavalry  expeditions  were  sent  out  from  Thomas' 
Department  in  Tennessee ;  one  under  General  James  H.  Wilson  to  operate  in  Alabama,  the  other  under 
General  George  Stoneman  to  cut  off  Lee's  last  avenue  of  escape.  Wilson's  Raid,  which  began  on  the  23d  of 
March,  included  engagements  and  skirmishes  at  Trion,  Centreville,  Bogler's  Creek  and  Plantersville,  Ala., 
and  the  battle  near  Selma,  Ala.,  where  Wilson  fought  Forrest,  defeating  him  and  taking  3,000  prisoners. 
On  the  2d  of  April  Wilson  captured  Selma,  destroying  the  arsenal  for  arms  and  military  stores.  From 
here  the  raid  continued  until  the  23d,  Wilson  devastating  everything  in  his  course.  His  losses  during  this 
raid  were  less  than  700  in  killed  and  wounded,  while  the  Confederates  lost  1,200  killed  and  wounded  and 
nearly  7,000  taken  prisoners. 


—538  — 

We  were  ordered  to  ride  over  the  two  lines  of  earthworks  in  front  of  the  brigade  at 
full  speed  and  not  fire  a  shot,  but  dash  on  and  capture  the  guard  on  the  bridge. 

"  We  did  as  ordered  and  went  right  over  the  breastworks.  Here  we  dismounted, 
turned  our  horses  loose,  rushed  on  to  the  bridge  and  captured  the  guards  before  they 
knew  who  we  were. 

Then  taking  half  a  dozen  of  the  prisoners  we  marched  them  across  ahead  of  about 
fifty  of  us  and  told  them  that  if  they  uttered  a  word  or  gave  any  alarm  we  would 
shoot  them  down,  and  furthermore  they  were  ordered  to  give  the  guard  at  the  other 
end  of  the  bridge  the  countersign. 

"It  was  a  very  dark  night  and  under  the  covered  bridge  it  was  impossible  to  dis 
tinguish  '  Yank' from 'Johnny.'  Our  prisoners  acted  according  to  our  instructions 
and  when  they  gave  the  countersign  we  pushed  them  aside  and  rushed  for  the  guns, 
and,  though  surprised,  the  rebels  gave  us  a  sharp  hand-to-hand  fight  for  about  fifteen 
minutes.  One  of  my  opponents  was  the  color-bearer,  who  fought  hard  to  save  his 
colors,  but  I  succeeded  in  downing  him  and  seized  the  flag.  We  drove  them  back 
and  captured  the  two  guns,  which  we  found  to  be  double-shotted,  but  they  never 
got  a  chance  to  fire  them." 


CHARLES   M.  BETTS, 


Lieutenant-Colonel,  15th  Penn.  Cav. 
Born  in  Bucks  Co..  Pa.,  Aug.  9, 1838. 


"  A  BOUT  the  middle  of  April,  1865,"  says  Lieutenant- 
*»  Colonel  Charles  M.  Betts,  of  the  Fifteenth  Pennsyl 
vania  Cavalry,  "  General  William  J.  Palmer  had  arrived 
at  Salem,  N.  C.,  with  a  portion  of  his  cavalry  division, 
among  which  were  two  battalions  of  our  regiment  under 
command  of  Major  Garner  and  Captain  Kramer,  and 
shortly  thereafter  General  Palmer  directed  me  to  attempt 
the  destruction  of  a  railroad  bridge  north  of  Greensboro, 
as  well  as  a  factory  to  the  south  engaged  in  the  manu 
facture  of  fire-arms  for  the  Confederacy.  Greensboro  was 
some  seventy-five  miles  east  of  Salem,  and  was  occupied  by  a  rebel  force  estimated 
at  5,000,  whose  attention  it  would  be  necessary  to  divert  to  accomplish  the  work 
assigned  to  me. 

'"Boots  and  saddles'  was  soon  sounded  and  we  started  off  in  the  early  evening 
accompanied  by  a  guide.  About  two  o'clock  A.  M.  I  detached  Major  Garner  with 
the  most  of  his  command  to  destroy  the  bridge  north,  and  directed  Captain  Kramer 
to  take  his  battalion  and  capture  and  burn  the  factory.  Retaining  about  ninety 
men  with  me  I  advanced  to  make  a  demonstration  against  Greensboro. 

"  Soon  after  daylight,  when  within  a  few  miles  of  the  place,  I  learned  from  a 
negro  in  the  field  that  a  portion  of  Johnson's  Third  South  Carolina  Cavalry  was 


—  540  — 

encamped  about  half  a  mile  to  our  right,  the  balance  scouting  to  ascertain  the 
whereabouts  of  the  Yankee  cavalry,  of  whose  approach  they  had  been  apprised. 
The  rebel  camp  was  in  an  open  wood  on  the  left  of  a  road  running  at  right  angles 
to  the  main  road  which  led  from  Salem  to  Greensboro,  and  adjoining  this  road  was 
a  meadow  separated  from  the  woods  by  a  sharp  declivity  and  a  fence.  The  command 
had  no  pickets  out,  depending  on  their  scouting  parties  to  notify  them  of  any 
danger,  and  were  then  cooking  breakfast.  After  a  short  conference  with  Adjutant 
Reiff  and  Lieutenant  Beck,  who,  I  believe,  were  the  only  officers  of  the  party  besides 
myself,  I  detailed  a  sergeant  with  ten  men  having  good  horses  to  take  the  advance 
and  charge  when  in  sight  of  the  camp,  making  all  the  noise  possible,  the  balance  to 
follow  in  support.  Those  who  had  horses  unfit  to  charge  were  instructed  to  barricade 
the  main  road  where  we  turned  to  the  right  to  reach  the  camp,  and  to  protect 
our  rear. 

"We  made  the  charge,  surprised  the  camp,  and  after  the  exchange  of  some  shots 
the  enemy  broke  and  fied  to  the  neighboring  meadow,  which  we  reached  by  moving 
out  to  the  main  road.  There  they  had  cover  from  a  deep  ditch,  but  being  threatened 
with  'no  quarter  without  surrender,'  they  threw  down  their  arms  and  were  taken 
prisoners. 

"  After  eating  what  they  had  prepared,  \ve  cut  the  wheels  of  their  wagons,  destroyed 
what  arms  and  equipage  they  had,  and  mounted  the  prisoners  on  the  poorest  horses, 
taking  their  fresh  ones  in  exchange.  Upon  drawing  them  up  in  line  I  found  I  had 
almost  as  many  prisoners  as  I  had  men  in  my  command.  I  told  them  that  our  guard 
had  instructions  to  shoot  without  notice  anyone  attempting  to  escape,  and  moved 
my  force  and  prisoners  out  to  the  main  road.  We  fed  our  horses,  and  waited  long 
enough  for  the  rebel  force  at  Greensboro  to  be  informed  of  our  presence  by  any  that 
might  have  escaped,  thereby  hoping  to  prevent  them  sending  any  of  their  force  to 
oppose  our  battalions  north  and  south. 

"I  had  been  instructed  to  attempt  the  destruction  of  a  small  railroad  bridge  on 
the  outskirts  of  Greensboro,  and  sent  Sergeant  Seldon  L.  Wilson  and  a  detail  of  ten 
men  with  good  horses  on  this  mission.  He  succeeded  in  burning  the  bridge  and 
without  loss  rejoined  the  command  the  same  night  at  Salem. 

"When  starting  back  I  detached  Sergeant  Strickler  with  ten  men  for  advance 
guard  to  attack  vigorously  any  force  in  front,  placing  a  like  number  in  our  rear  to 
drive  off  anything  coming  in  that  direction.  This  left  me  about  fifty  men  to  guard 
nearly  twice  that  number  of  prisoners.  We  were  twice  threatened  by  small  parties 
of  rebel  cavalry  on  the  road,  but  drove  them  off  without  difficulty.  When  we 
reached  the  rendezvous  where  the  two  battalions  were  to  meet  us  we  found  only 
Kramer's.  He  had  destroyed  the  factory  with  many  stands  of  arms  in  process  of 
manufacture,  and  like  myself  was  loaded  down  with  prisoners.  Major  Garner  rejoined 
the  command  before  night,  having  accomplished  all  that  was  assigned  to  him  with 
out  loss." 


—  541  — 


WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION— SUMMARY 


Volume  I  of  Deeds  of  Valor  would  be  incomplete  without  a  summary  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
in  the  following  review  the  compass  of  the  struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  is  given  in  as  concise 
form  as  is  consistent  with  a  clear  understanding  of  the  struggle  from  its  beginning  to  its  end. 

In  1850  South  Carolina  brought  many  of  the  southern  states  to  the  belief  that  a  state  might  secede 
from  the  Union  without  violating  the  constitution,  and  finally,  in  1860,  after  Lincoln's  election,  she  led  the 
movement  of  secession  followed  by  five  other  states. 

The  slave  population  of  the  United  States  was  at  that  time  4,000,000  and  its  money  valuation  something 
like  $2,500,000,000,  and  the  soul  of  the  southern  revolution  of  1861  was  historically  the  zeal  of  founding  a  new 
or  reunited  union  of  States  whose  corner-stone  should  be  negro  slavery — the  subjugation  of  the  colored  to 
the  white  race  as  a  normal  and  natural  condition.  The  slaveholder  believed  in  the  righteousness  of  his 
system,  and  rather  than  readjust  economic  and  industrial  conditions  he  would  break  up  the  Union.  Such 
was  the  social  system  of  principles  of  the  cotton-planting  states  that  set  the  insurrection  in  motion.  These 
states,  after  Lincoln's  election,  made  no  effort  to  conceal  the  fact  that  men  were  being  enlisted  and 
national  forts  and  public  property  were  being  seized. 

In  February,  1861,  the  "Confederate  States  of  America"  were  organized  with  Jefferson  Davis  as 
President  and  the  first  session  of  the  provisional  government  levied  war  on  the  United  States  by  acts 
authorizing  the  raising  of  100,000  military  volunteers  and  organizing  the  Army  of  the  Confederate  States. 

After  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  in  Charleston  Harbor,  April  12,  1861,  the  first  action  between  Northern 
and  Southern  forces,  and  President  Lincoln's  call  for  troops,  war  was  recognized  as  existing  by  the 
Confederate  government  and  a  new  bill  was  passed  for  volunteer  troops  in  addition  to  those  already 
enlisted. 

From  this  time  on  until  the  surrender  of  Lee's  Army  of  'Northern  Virginia,  April  9,  1865,  the  fierce 
struggle  for  supremacy  was  carried  on,  in  which,  during  the  four  years  of  fighting,  the  waning  fortunes  of 
the  Confederacy  became  a  lost  cause. 

Following  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  that  of  Johnston's  was  expected,  but  not  until  the  14th  did 
Johnston  under  a  flag  of  truce  send  Sherman  a  proposal  to  suspend  hostilities  long  enough  for  the  civil 
authorities  to  arrange  a  peace.  Terms  of  surrender  of  Johnston's  army  were  agreed  upon  between  the  two 
generals,  but  the  conditions  given  Johnston  were  so  much  better  than  those  accorded  Lee  that  the  capitu 
lation  thus  arranged  was  disapproved  at  Washington.  Later,  on  the  25th,  the  terms  of  surrender  were 
arranged  on  the  same  basis  as  Lee's,  and  Johnston's  army,  inclusive  of  the  troops  operating  in  Georgia 
and  Florida,  surrendered. 

General  Canby,  who  commanded  the  Union  forces  in  the  Gulf,  had  in  March  opened  a  campaign 
against  Mobile,  in  co-operation  with  a  naval  fleet  under  Admiral  Thatcher,  and  captured  that  place  on  the 
llth  of  April.  On  the  4th  of  May  he  arranged  with  the  Confederate,  Taylor,  the  capitulation  of  all  the 
armies  east  of  the  Mississippi  River  not  already  paroled.  The  Confederate  forces  west  of  the  Mississippi 
were  commanded  by  General  E.  Kirby  Smith,  upon  whom  Davis  fixed  his  last  hopes  after  Lee  and  Johnston 
had  surrendered,  and  who,  after  one  more  skirmish  near  Brazos,  Tex.,  surrendered  his  whole  army  to 
Canby  at  New  Orleans  on  the  26th  of  May.  Thus  ended  the  military  strife  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  and,  apropos,  the  capture  of  Davis  by  Union  cavalry  scouts  on  the  10th  of  May  terminated  the 
Southern  Confederacy  in  its  civil  embodiment. 

During  this  prolonged  struggle  the  Northern  Army  was  commanded  successively  by  Major-General 
Winfield  Scott  until  November  1,  1861 ;  Major-General  George  B.  McClellan  until  March  11,  1862;  Major- 
General  Henry  W.  Halleck  until  March  12,  1864 ;  and  Lieutenant-General  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  who  success 
fully  brought  the  war  to  a  close  by  his  persistent  "hammering,"  coupled  with  his  wonderful  generalship. 
These  commanding  generals  had  under  them,  commanding  the  several  armies  and  the  twenty-five  army 
corps,  such  men  as  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Burnside,  Rosecrans,  Meade,  Humphreys,  Warren,  Wright,  Parke, 
Ord  and  Weitzel. 

The  Confederate  armies  on  the  other  hand  were  commanded  by  Generals  Robert  E.  Lee,  the  two 
Johnstons,  Joseph  E.  and  Albert  S.,  Early,  Longstreet,  "  Stonewall "  Jackson,  Hood  and  Ewell. 


—  542- 

The  scope  of  Deeds  of  Valor  does  not  include  any  but  those  heroic  deeds  for  which  the  Medal  of  Honor 
was  awarded,  but  great  credit  is  due  to  all  the  soldiers  who  participated  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  for 
their  noble  work  in  defending  the  Union ;  and  to  the  departed  heroes  who  laid  down  their  lives  on  the 
battlefield,  many  of  whom  performed  deeds  of  a  most  valorous  and  distinguished  nature,  and  who,  had 
they  survived  their  heroic  acts,  would  undoubtedly  have  received  recognition  at  the  hands  of  the  Govern 
ment  by  the  award  of  the  Medal  of  Honor. 


The  number  of  men  enlisted  in  the  Federal  Army  during  the  war  by  periods  of  service  was  as  follows: 


For  60  days . . . 
"  90  "  ... 
"100  "  ... 
"  4  months. 
"  6  " 


2,045 

108,416 

85,807 

42 

26,118 

373 

89,899 


For  1   year   393,706 

"  2  years 44,400 

"  3      "     2,028,630 

"  4       "      1,042 


Aggregate  enlistments 2,780,478 


The  strength  of  the  Federal  Army  was  : 

January  1 ,  1861 16,367 

"       "    1862 575,917 

"       "    1863 918,191 

"       "    1864 860,737 


January  1,  1865 959,460 

March  31,  1865 980,086 

May  1,  1865 100,516 


ILLUSTRATIONS    IN    COLORS. 


AT  THE  BATTLE  Or  BULL  RUN. 
THE  BATTLE  Or  SM1LOM. 
AT   ANT1ETAM. 

THE   BURNING  Or  THE  CONGRESS. 

SKIRMISHERS  AT  CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
THE  MONITOR  IN  A  STORM. 

SINKING  Or  THE  ALABAMA  BY  THE  KEARSARGE. 
PICKETT'S  CHARGE   AT  GETTYSBURG. 
THE  STORMING  OP  VICKSBURG. 

BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  MONITOR  AND  THE  MERRIMAC. 
THE   BATTLE  Or   NEW  ORLEANS. 

BATTLE  Or  SPOTTSYLVAN1A. 

BOMBARDMENT  Or   PORT   HUDSON. 

AT  THE    BATTLE  Or  THE   WILDERNESS. 
BATTLE  Or  MOBILE   BAY. 

rLANKING   THE    ENEMY. 


II 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Introduction  1 

Saving  the  colors 3 

Recapturing  a  drove  of  caitk1 5 

Stood  his  ground 7 

In  Libby  prison 9 

Saving  the  gun 11 

"Only  seven" 12 

An  exciting  chase 1.4 

The  Mitchell  raiders IT 

A  plucky  charge '21 

A  gallant  drummer  boy 22 

Private  Dillon  at  Fort  Magruder 25 

"Let's  capture  their  colors,  boys'' 27 

Destroying  the  bridge  at  Front  Royal,  Va.  ...  31 

At  Harper's  Ferry 37 

"In  front  of  an  advancing  rebel  regiment"..  .  40 
'"The  flag  was  left  on  the  other  side  of  the 

fence" 42 

"At  the  risk  of  his  life" 43 

"Returning  to  rescue  a  comrade' 45 

"Four  charges  with  a  shattered  arm" 46 

"Distinguished  conduct  in  action" 49 

"Seized  one  of  the  guidons  of  his  regiment".  .  51 

"Rolled  over  and  over" 57 

"I'll  stay  and  fight  it  out" 59 

"As  we  were  hurrying  back" G3 

"We  hastened  the  prisoners  back" 65 

"We  loaded  the  gun  for  the  last  time" 70 

"I  got  him  over  the  wall" .  72 

Scanning  Allen's  prisoners 74 

Assisting  the  captain 76 

"Bob,  I'll  help  the  Doe-boys  ' 77 

"Amid  a  hail  of  lead" 80 

Improvised  straw  stack  hospital 82 

"I  reached  the  goal" 84 

A  struggle  for  the  colors 8(5 

"I  reached  my  wounded  comrade" 89 

"Our  battery  poured  a  deadly  fire  upon  the 

enemy"  93 

"He  sprang  in  front  of  his  commander" 95 

"Flaunted  the  Stars  and  Stripes" 98 

The  Sinking  Creek  Valley  raid 103 

"The  battle  grew  more  fierce" 108 

"It  seemed  I  grasped  lor  death' Ill 

Colonel  Collis  at  Fredericksburg 113 

"Stopping  their  fire" 119 

"I  planted  the  flagstaff  in  the  ground" 122 

"We  moved  across  the  river" 124 

"Like  an  angel  among  the  wounded" 126 

"I  managed  to  turn  the  horse" 128 

"Kscaped  unhurt"  131 

"Struggled  ashore  Avaist  deep  in  the  water".  .  133 

"We  were  holding  our  fire" 139 

"They  started  with  a  yell" 142 

"The  enemy  was  checked" 146 

Colonel  Shaler  at  Chancellorsville 151 

"We  were  in  deep  shadow  as  we  passed" . .  .  153 

"A  shell  exploded  near  me" 158 

"Three  of  my  men  responded" 161 

"I  remained  with  the  colors" 163 

"From  both  sides  came  volleys" 165 

"The  enemy  were  upon  us" 167 

"They  advanced  with  a  tremendous  yell" ....  174 


PAGE. 

"The  end  of  the  journey" 179 

"I   threw   myself  against  the  weather-beaten 

door"   181 

"Single  file,   'march!'  " 183 

"I  ordered  him  to  'about  face'  " 185 

"We  dragged  one  gun  up" 189 

Volunteer  Storm ers,  Vicksburg,  Any  22,  1863, 

192,  193 
"This   gave  time   to   toss  some  of  the   shells 

back"   195 

"One  lone  soldier  advanced" 199 

"I  seized  it  none  too  soon" 202 

"I  jerked  it  into  our  lines" 207 

"I  sprang  from  the  pit" 209 

"I  shouted-  to  my  boys:  'Come  on!'  " 211 

"He  was  found  under  his  dead  horse" 213 

"The  enemy  put  to  disastrous  flight" 217 

"Xo  Libby  Prison  for  me" 220 

"The    Confederate     pluckily    held    on     to    the 

colors"   224 

"Covered  the  windows  and  doors  with  their 

guns"   227 

"I  sank  my  spurs  into  the  horse's  sides" 229 

"I  used  my  gun  for  a  crutch" 234 

"The  captain  struck  up  with  his  sabre". .....  241 

"We  broke  through  the  Confederate  column" .  243 

"Demanded  their  surrender" 245 

"And  instantly  he  surrendered" 247 

"I  arrived  unhurt" 249 

"We   deployed   and   started   for   the   fortifica 
tion"   254 

"I    knelt   down,   still   holding   the  flag   in    my 

hands" 259 

"I   picked   up   the   colors   with    my   uninjured 

hand"    .' 261 

"My  aim  was  to  rescue  my  comrade" 262 

"I  sounded:  'To  the  colors'  " 264 

"You  are  my  prisoner" 267 

"I   hurriedly   passed   along  the  front,   cutting 

off  " 270 

"We  dashed  through  their  lines" 275 

"They  rushed  upon  the  foe" 277 

"We   will   form   here" 279 

"Signaling  to  cease  firing" 284 

"They    waved    their    hats    and    shouted:    'We 

surrender!'  "    280 

"Driving  off  the  rebel  gunners" 291 

"With  my  bayonet  at  his  breast  I  demanded 

his  surrender" 294 

"Dashing  through  the  rebel  lines" 297 

"Repulsing  the  charge 299 

The  rescue  of  Sergeant  Charles  F.  Branch  by 

Lieutenant  T.  S.  Peck 303 

"I  sprang  at  the  two  guards" 309 

"We  proceeded  through  swamps" 311 

"Waving  my  hat  in  my  left,  I  ran  forward".  .  314 

"Dashing  up  to  him,  seized  the  flag" 321 

"The  poor  fellow  had  been  trying  to  drag  him 
self  along  with  his  hands" 323 

"They  greeted  me  with  hearty  cheers" 325 

"He  struck  at  him  with  his  empty  pistol"..  ..  330 
"  'I'll  do  it  myself.'  he  said" 333 


Ill 


I'.UiK. 

"Lying  on  the  ground  with  an  ugly  wound  in 

his  jaw"   :>> 13 

"I  reached  out  and  grasped  him" 345 

"Before  we  left,  we  set  h're  to  the  craft" 34S 

"They  used  their  spoons" 35:: 

"He  was  helped  on  his  horse" 35X 

"Others  were  firing  at  close  range" 302 

"One  bound  and  the  rebel  pickets  were  over 
powered"    307 

"Finally  had  to  retreat  to  the  main  force" 371 

"We  gained  the  railroad  bridge  and   started 

across" 37<! 

"He  cut  the  rebel  down  with  a  tremendous 

sabre  blow" 381 

"A  shell  exploded  at  his  feet" 380 

"Colonel  Delevan  Bates  at  the  Crater"  (Peters 
burg)    391 

"Immediately    every    gun    was    trained    upon 

him" 395 

Captain  T.  R.  Kerr  capturing  rebel  colors  near 

Moorefield,  W.  Va 398 

"I  emptied  a  chamber  of  my  revolver  into  his 

breast" 400 

Dr.  Mary  Walker  at  work  on  the  field 400 

"We  remained  in  the  swamp" 411 

"Estes.    armed   with   a   revolver,    went  ahead 

with   a   rush" 412 

Captain   Maynard  preventing  a  general  mas 
sacre  410 

"They  kept  on  the  side  remote  from  the  hos 
tile  shore"    421 

"A  bullet  intended  for  me  struck  my  mount"..  425 

"General  Hood  was  crossing  his  army" 429 

"Gave  me  the  colors  and  hoisted  me  up" 432 


I'  ACiK. 

"I  hastened  ashore  and  discovered  the  comrade 

to  be  Captain  A.   \V.   Becker 438 

"As  General  Sheridan  came  dashing  along"..   444 

"General  Kamseur  is  inside" 44S 

"He  asked  for  a  slower  tempo" 4.~>l 

"For  six  miles  he  carried  and  dragged  him".  .  450 
"The  rebels  were  driven  through  and  out  of 

The  town"   404 

"The  Brave   Captain    was   Struck" 408 

"Secured  the  Hag  and  returned  uninjured"...  47<> 
"The  water  proved  to  lie  over  six  feet  deep".  .  4SU 
'•Being  lifted  into  the  saddle  and  held  there 

by  two  of  his  men" 4S."> 

"With  a  color-bearer  on  one  siil«>  and  a  bugler 

on  the  other" 488 

"We  picked  Brobst   up  and  placed  him  on   my 

rifle    bet  \\eon    us" 495 

"We  received  their  volley  of  fifty  pieces"....   .103 
"At  the  risk  of  his  life  conveyed  him  to  shel 
ter"    51.", 

"He  reached  his  goal  amid  a   shower  of  bul 
lets"   517 

"I  captured  a  lieutenant  and  three  men" 520 

"Flinging  himself  on  the  horse's  neck  to  escape 

the  whixxing  bullets" 523 

"They  were  hanging  on  to  the  buggy  to  keep 

it  off  the  horse's  heels" 520 

"Switched  his  tail  and  sailed  right  over  among 

the  Ilebs"   529 

"Filtered  the  embrasure  of  a  "O-pounder  Par 
rot  t   gun"    534 

"They     broke     and     fled     to     a     neighboring 
meadow"   539 


IV 


TITLES. 


PAGE. 

Ammunition  from  the  Dead 269 

A  Murderous  Fight  in  the  Dark 275 

A  Single-Handed  Charge 423 

At  Antietam  and  Frederieksburg 114 

A  Message  Delivered   Under  Difficulty 433 

A    'Sergeant   Who    Wisely    Disbelieved 436 

An  Extended  Hair   Cut 143 

A  Successful   Mission  of  Destruction 538 

A  Dare-Devil  Charge 255 

A  Brave  Sacrifice 186. 

A  Most  Heroic  and  Hazardous  Hide  at  Gettys 
burg  228 

A  Staff  Officer's  Pluck 200 

A   Flag  the    Rebels    Didn't   Get 201 

A  Dramatic  Incident  on  the  Battlefield 211 

"A  More  Gallant  Charge  Was  Never  Made" . .   210 

A  Grave  for  a  Pillow 219 

A  Display  of  Coolness  and  Nerve 439 

A  Singular  Predicament  Skillfully  Handled..  298 

Avenged  His  Comrade's  Death 334 

A  Rear  Guard's  Heroic  Work 301 

A  Dashing  Charge  at  Gettysburg 239 

All  for  His  Messmate 262 

A  Small  Party's  Brave  Deed 244 

A  Bayonet  Charge  the  Last  Hope 246 

An  Improvised  Bodyguard 404 

A  iMusket  Butt  Argument 223 

A   Private's  Ingenuity 292 

A  Colossal  Bluff 293 

Attracted   General    Custer's    Attention 511 

A  Resourceful  Artillery  Officer 230 

A   Rescue   Under   Difficulties 322 

Against  a  Superior  Force 36 

A  Brave  Bugler 260 

A  Woman  Captured  by  Champ  Furgeson.  ..  .  405 

At  the  Risk  of  His  Life 43 

A  Hero  from  the  South 514 

A  Profitable  Reconnoissance 519 

A  Noble  Sacrifice 532 

Attempted  to  Spike  an  Abandoned  Gun 91 

A   Gallant   Drummer   Boy 22 

A  Bold  Stroke 29 

A  Youngster's  Heroism 35 

At  the  "Bloody  Angle" 338 

A  Bayonet  Charge  Put  the  Rebels  to  Flight.  .  392 

A  Struggle  for  the  Colors 86 

Among  the  Most  Heroic  of  the  War 175 

A  Hero  of  Three  Brave  Deeds 4 

A  Daring  Escape  from  Libby  Prison 8 

Attempted   to   Capture  a   Flag 13 

An  Exciting  Chase 14 

A  Plucky  Charge 21 

A  Dangerous  Mission 61 

An  Awful  Barge  Ride  Under  Fire 176 

A    Timely    Warning 62 

A   Highly   Honored   Soldier 66 

At   Bloody  Lane 79 


PAGE. 

A  'Charge  in  Water  and  Darkness 123 

A  Battle  Brief  But  Bloody 315 

A  Ride  to  Almost  Certain  Death 359 

A  Successful  Round-up 360 

"Aim  Low  and  Give  Them  H — 1" 92 

A  Musician  as  a  Sharpshooter 372 

A  Brave  Colonel  and  His  Brave  Mare 344 

A  Rebel  General  the  'Musician's  Prisoner....  356 

A  Thrilling  Ride 455 

A  Rebel   Charge  that  Failed 457 

A  Clever  Tactician's  Clever  Achievement....  458 

Bold  Capture  of  the  Bridge 537 

Bettor  Work  AVithout  the  Drum 56 

Boldly  Captured   Fourteen  Rebels 73 

"Bob,  I'll  Help  the  Doe-boys". .  , 77 

Brought  in  His  Major — Dead 127 

Both  Arms  Shot  Off Ill 

Brave  and  Resourceful 208 

Brunei-' s  Brave  Ride 296 

Brilliant  Conduct  in  a  Fierce  Battle 487 

Between  Two  Lines  of  Fire 341 

Brave  and  Devoted  to  His  Comrades 355 

Capture  of  Fort  Blakely 533 

Clever  Strategy  Fooled 'the  Rebels 396 

Captured  Two  Rebels 60 

Cared    for    the    Wounded    Amidst    a    Hail    of 

Bullets 81 

Captured  Three  Hundred  Rebels 118 

Colonel  Collis  "Pitched  In"  With  His  Zouaves.-  112 
Captured  the  Sharpshooters  in  the  Barn ....   251 

"Come  on.  You  Brave  Yank" 198 

Captures  His  Captor 184 

Charged  to  the  Muzzles  of  the  Enemy's  Guns.  349 

Captured  a  Flag  and  Two  Prisoners 218 

Captured   Battle-Flags 288 

Carried  the  Colors  of  His  Wounded  Comrade.   225 

Captured  Four  Regimental  Flags 235 

Captured  a  Confederate  Major 266 

Courage,  Energy  and  Military  Ability 357 

Captured  General  Vance 300 

Captures  His  Captors  and  Escapes 308 

Capture  of  a  Bushwhacker  Outpost 310 

Charged  Over  a  Burning  Bridge 412 

Captured,  But  Their  Colors  Were  Saved 368 

Captured   a   Whole   Color-Guard 336 

Capture  of  General  Marmaduke. 450 

Distinguished  Conduct  in  Action 49 

Dropped  the  Pen,  Shouldered  the  Musket.  . .  .  206 

Determined  to  Fight,  Though  Wounded 319 

"Don't  Let  Them  Get  Me" 494 

Duty  and  Death  Rather  Than  Dishonor 501 

Equal  to  the  Emergency 401 

Engineer,  Surgeon  and  Hero 512 

Eager  to  Fight 13 

Even  the  Enemy  Cheered 148 

Fired  the  Bridge 30 

Four  Charges  With  a  Shattered  Arm.  .  46 


PAGE. 

•'For  God's  Sake,  Run!" — He  Ran 130 

Fort  linger  Taken  by  Hold  and  Almost  Reck 
less    Bravery ! 132 

Fought  When  He  Should  be  at  the  Hospital..    116 

Frustrated  the  Enemy's  Plans 200 

Forgot  He  Was  a  General 224 

"Fall  Out  Here,  Every  1>— d  One  of  You!"...   226 

"Form  on   Ale" 2TS 

"Forward!"    His   Voice   Rang   Out 445 

Gallant    Vermonters 518 

Gallant  Service  at  'Chancellorsville 149 

Gallant  Rescue  of  a  Drowning  Comrade 490 

Humor.   Persistency,   Gallantry 528 

He  Waved  His  Shattered  Arm 38 

"Halt!     I  Want  Your  Flag" 440 

Historic  Incidents  from  the  Fall  of  Ft.  Fisher.  472 

Heroic  Rescue  of  Two  Flags 41 

Held  on  to  the  Rebel   Captain 71 

He  Checked  the  Panic 324 

Heroic  Artillery  Work  of  a  Volunteer 331 

He  Saved  His  Guns 274 

How  General  Ramseur  Was  Made  a  Prisoner.  447 

He  Kept  His  Colors  Flying 316 

Heroic  Stand  of  a  Brave  Young  Corporal...     69 
He  Paused  at  the  Side  of  His  Dead  Captain.  .  370 

Heroic  and  Humane 415 

Heroism  in  the  Hour  of  Reverse 5iK> 

In  Full   View  of  the  Enemy 516 

"I'll  Stay  With  You  Till  You  Are  Safe" 524 

It  Seemed  I  Grasped  for  Death 110 

Insubordination  Rewarded 256 

Indiscretion  Brought  Arrest — Bravery  Secured 

Release   268 

Interruptions  at  a  Rebel  Breakfast 383 

Incidents    from    Winchester's    Bloody    Battle 
field  418 

"I  Was  Mad  as  a  Hornet" 465 

"I'd  Rather  Be  Killed  Than  Called  a  Coward"  116 

John  Cook,  the  Boy  Gunner 75 

Kendall's  Ten-Foot  Leap 185 

Language  More  Forceful  Than   Elegant 521 

"Let's  Capture  Their  Colors,  Boys" 27 

Like  an  Angel  Among  the  Wounded 125 

Led  a  Gallant  Charge 99 

"Lay  Him  in  the  Shade;  He  Won't  Last  Long"  205 

"Let's  Save  Our  Comrade" 328 

Lost  in  the  Woods — Joined  Another  Regiment.  335 

"Let's  Go  for  the  Guns" 422 

Left  to  Their  Fate,  But  Escaped 375 

"Lieutenant.   What   Say   You?" 4!)7 

Made  Good  Use  of  the  Enemy's  Weapons....   515 

Mud  Baths  for  Future  Good  Health 44 

Most  Brave  and  Intrepid  on  the  Field 53 

Merited  President  Lincoln's  Admiration 379 

Narrow  Escape  While  Saving  a  Comrade....  214 

Nine  Men  Captured  by  One 285 

"Now  You  Have  Surrendered" 290 

Only    Seven 12 

On  Horseback  Down  a  Precipitous  Bluff....   152 

On  Errands  of  Mercy 160 

Our  Gun  Was  Kept  in  Motion 166 

Obeyed   an   Ill-Advised   Order 332 

•One  of  "Smith's  Guerrillas" 313 

•'Our  Colors  Are  Down" 317 

Overwhelmed  by  Sherman's  Kindness 492 

Over  Five  Barricades 463 

Only  One  Man  Lost  in  a  Gallant  Raid 478 

Placed  His  Comrade's  Life  Above  His  Own..     91 
Planted  the  Colors  and  Rallied  the  Regiment.   265 

Pick   Off  the  Artillerists 273 

Rewarded   Twice 517 

Rescued  1.000  Rounds  of  Ammunition  and  a 

Wounded  Comrade 16 

Retaliation    58 

Rescued  an  Abandoned  Battery 54 

Routed   Morgan's   Raiders.  .  .   180 


PAGE. 

Risked  the  Death  of  a  Spy 280 

Rescued  His  Comrade 327 

Reached  the  Captain  Just  in  Time 437 

Hounded   Up   Forty   Rebels 440 

Risked  His  Life  for  His  Comrades 2X3 

Recaptured  Colors  and  Took  Two  Prisoners.  .   365 
Retained      Command      in      Spite      of      Severe 

Wounds   369 

Rescued    by    a    Drummer 342 

Risked   Being  Blown  to  Atoms  at  Dutch  Gap 

Canal  477 

Rescued  His  Lieutenant 346 

Rescued    Comrades    from    a    Stranded    Trans 
port    347 

Rescned  the  Colonel's  Body. .  . 354 

Saved  by  His  Horse 522 

Surrounded   by  Rebels 87 

Saving  the  Colors 3 

Stood    His  Ground 7 

Saved  the  Gun 11 

Seven  AVounds  in  Seven  Days 58 

Surrender — Surrender   64 

Saved    His    Captain's    Brother 120 

Scouts'  Perilous  Plight 147 

Stuck    to    His    Colors 162 

Sa  ved  a  Battalion 129 

"Shoot   Him!— Kill   Him!" 164 

Splendid  Heroism  of  a   Private 94 

Seized  the  Colors  and  Took  the  Lead 117 

Saw  the  Rebel  Flag  and  Took  It 236 

Severe  Cost  of  Skirmishing 210 

Saved   a   Corps   from   Annihilation 221 

Soldiers   as    Good    Samaritans 144 

Sooner  Fight  Than  Beat  the  Drum 289 

Swimming  Under  Heavy  Fire 420 

Shot  the  Rebel   Color-Bearer 320 

Seized   His   Opportunity 417 

Swam  the  River  Under  Difficulties 479 

Stories  of  the  Flag  at  Cedar  Creek 449 

Scenes  from  Hatcher's  Run 452 

Ten  Captured  a  Fortified  Stockade 253 

The   "Forlorn   Hope"   at  A'icksburg 190 

This  Bugler  Checked  a  Rout 263 

The   Flag   Never   Touched   the   Ground 258 

Two  Riders  on   One  Horse 443 

The   Bonds  of   Comradeship 423 

Thought  Only  of  Saving  the  Flag 434 

The  Fall  of  Fort  Harrison 431 

Their    Heroism    AA'as    Infectious 318 

The   story  of  a   Youthful  Hero 435 

Three  Examples  of  Soldierly  Devotion 363 

The'  Capture  of  Five  Confederate  Cavalrymen.  377 
Tunneled  His  AA'ay  to  a  AA'ounded  Officer....  350 

The  Colonel's  Wrath  AA'as  Appeased 378 

Thrilling   Episodes   Around   Petersburg 504 

The  Hero  of  Fort  Ilaskel 384 

Three  Men  Capture  Twenty-seven  ••Johnnies".  366 
The  Gallant  Colonel  and  His  Brave  Adjutant.   39O 

They  Stood  by  Their  Guns 157 

True   Comradeship 171 

Thwarted  the  Enemy's  Attacks 172 

Three    Cheers    for    the    Color-Bearer 97 

The   Sinking   Creek    A'alley    Raid 103 

"They  Can't  Drive  You  Out  of  Here" 513 

The  Charge  AATas  Made  AA'ith  a  Mighty  Shout.  239 

"That's  the  Last  You'll  See  of  'Sacriste" 155 

The  Joke  Was  on  the  Other  Fellows 248 

Though  Sick.  Bravely  Led  His  ,Men 282 

The  First  Union  Flag  in  Vicksburg 215 

Two  Gettysburg  Heroes 222 

The  "D— d  Yanks"  Didn't  Beg  for  Mercy 137 

Three  Hundred  Yankees  Against  Four  Regi 
ments  140 

The  Struggle  at  the  "Bloody  Angle" 232 

Two  of  Sheridan's  Scouts 4O2 

The   Delay   AVas   Fatal 233 


VI 


PAGE. 

Three  Deeds  of  Valor 28 

Though  Wounded,  Remained  at  His  Post....     39 

Two  Gallant  Officers 47 

The  Drummer  Boy  of  the  Chickahominy 50 

To  Save  the  Stars  and  Stripes 83 

The  Last  on  Antietam's  Bloody  Battlefield..  .     88 

Too  Young  for  Enlistment,  But  Served 394 

The  Flag  Was  Saved 90 

The  Mitchell  Raid 17 

Traded  His  Instrument  for  a  Gun 121 

The  Old  Vermont  Brigade 145 

The  Colonel  Carried  the  Standard 150 

Under  Constant  Fire  for  Seventeen  Hours ...     55 

Usurped  the  General's  Authority 240 

Under  a  Muscadine  Grape- Vine 427 

Under  Special  Protection  of  Providence 361 

Under  the  Eyes  of  His  Commander 469 

Volunteer  Infantrymen  at  the  Gun 107 

Victory  Crowned  His   Gallantry 286 


PAGE. 

Valorous  Deeds  at  Hatcher's  Run 482 

"Well  Done,  Taylor" 399 

"What  in  H— 1  Are  We  Here  For?" 24 

With  an  Empty  Gun 32 

Wounded  While  Capturing  a  Flag 86 

With  Griffith's  Battery.  •  • 10 

Wit  and  Nerve  of  a  Soldier-Clergyman 182 

Where  Disobedience  Was  a  Virtue 242 

With  Bayonet  and  Cobble  Stones 250 

Within  a  FeAv  Feet  of  the  Enemy 188 

Would  He  Have  Taken  the  Whole  Brigade?.  .  329 

With  Eleven  Men  Held  an  Army  at  Bay 307 

Where  the  Rebels  Were  Badly  Beaten. 491 

"We  Can  Go  Wherever  the  General  Can"...  460 

Where  Others  Skulked.  He  Stood  His  Ground.  466 

When  the  Rebels  Were  Routed  at  Nashville..  467 

"We  Will,  Lieutenant;  AVe  AVill" 469 

Yearned  for  Libertv  and  Gained  It..                .  409 


VII 


MEDAL  OF  HONOR-MEN  MENTIONED. 


PAGE. 

Adams,  John  G.  B 110 

Albert,    Christian 197 

Allen,  James  "3 

Ames,  Adelbert 10 

Anderson,   Everett  W 301) 

Anderson,   Marvin   T 467 

Anderson,  Peter  T 492 

Archinal.  William  192 

Ara^strong.   Clinton   L 197 

Ayers,  John  G.  K 192 

Ayers,    David 193 

Bates,  Delevan   390 

Barber,  James  A 516 

Barringer,   William   II 197 

Beckwith,  Wallace  A 107 

Beech,  John  P 331 

Beebe,  William   S 315 

Bennett,  Orson  W 458 

Bensinger.  Wm   17 

Betts.  Charles  M 538 

Bickford,  Henry  H 489 

Bickford.    Math 193 

Black,  John  C 99 

Blackmar,    Wilmon   W 511 

Blackwood,  William  R.  D 512 

Blasdell,  Thomas  A 197 

Bliss.  George  N 424 

Bonebrake.  Henry  G. 505 

Boon,  Hugh  P 531 

Boss,   Orlando  P 351 

Bouquet,  Nicholas  15 

Bourke,  Billy    432 

Boynton.  Henry  Van  X 287 

Bowen.   Emmer 197 

Brannigan,  Felix  , 148 

Bringle,  Andrew    531 

Brosnan.  John    363 

Brown,   Robert  B 288 

Brown,  Uriah  H 193 

Brown.  W.  W 17 

Browne,   Edward.  Jr 162 

Bruner.  Louis  J 296 

Brush.   George  W 347 

Buckingham,  David  E 479 

Buckles,  Abram  J 316 

Buckley.  John  C 193 

Bnffum,  Robt    17 

Burger.    Joseph IMF 

Buhrman,   Henry  G 197 

Bumgarner.  Wm   192 

Burke.  Daniel  W 91 

Burke.  Thomas  218 

Butterfield.  Daniel   47 

Butterfleld,  Frank  G 171 

Cadwallader,  Abel  G 486 

Cadwell.  Luman  L 420 

Caldwell,  Daniel  485 


PAIJK. 

Campbell,    William 197 

( 'apehart,  Henry   344 

( 'anna n.   Warren   489 

Carmen,  Isaac  H 201 

Carney,   A\  illiam   H 258 

Carson,  W.  J 263 

Carter,  Joseph  F 4!J7 

Cesnola,  Luigi  Palma  di 212 

Chamberlain,  Joshua  L 246 

Chandler,   Stephen  E 524 

Chase,  John  F 157 

Chisman.   William  H 197 

Churchill.  Samuel  J 466 

Clark.  Charles  A 152 

Clark,  Harrison   22.1 

i  h.riv,    William   A 137 

Clay,  Cecil   431 

Clute,  George  W 491 

Cockley,  David  L 463 

Coey,  James   482 

Colby.  Carlos  X 197 

Cole,  Gabriel   419 

Collis.  Chas.  H.  F 112 

Compson,  Hartwell  B 487 

Conaway,  John  W 193 

Congdon,  James 489 

Cook,  John  H 313 

Cook,  John 75 

Corcoran,  John  516 

Corliss.   Stephen   P 504 

Cosgriff.  Richard  H 537 

Cox,  Robert   193 

Coyne,  John  X -7 

Cranston,  Wallace  W 144 

Crocker,   Henry  H 443 

Crosier,  William  378 

Crowley,  Michael   489 

Cummings,  Amos  J 166 

Cunningham,    Francis   M 528 

Cunningham,   James    S 197 

Curran.  Dr.  Richard 81 

Curtis,  John  C 60 

Curtis,  X.  M 474 

Custer.  Thomas  W 517 

Cutcheon,  Byron  M 180 

I  >arrough,  John  S 437 

Davidson,  Andrew    390 

Davis,  Charles  C, 216 

Davis,  George  E 375 

Davis    Martin   K 197 

Day,   Charles 485 

1  >ay.  David  F 197 

DeLacy.  Patrick  320 

Deland.  Frederick  M 2O6 

I  H'laney.  John  C 485 

1  K'Witt.   Richard  W 197 

I  Mckie.    David 197 


VIII 


Dillon.   Michael  A 

Dorsey,   I  huiiel  A 

Dow,   George  P 

Downey,  William   

Drake,   James   Madison 

Drury,  James   

Duffy,  John  

Dnnlavy.  James 

Dunne,  James  

Durham,  James  R 

Eckes.  John   X 

English.  Edmund 

Ennis.  Charles  I) 

EsTes.   Llewellyn  G 

Evans,  Ira  H 

Ewing,  John  C 

Fassitt.  John  B 

Eeniald.  Albert  E 

Fesq.   Frank    

Finkenbeiner,  H.   S 

Fisher.   John   X 

Fisher,  Joseph 

Fhnmigan.    James 

Fleet  wood.   Cnristian  A 

r  lynn.  James  E 

Follet.  Joseph  L 

Frantz.    Jos 

Fraser.  W.  W 

Fi  ey.   Franz 

Frezzell,    Henry 

Frick.  Jacob  G.'. 

Fnger,  Frederick   

Furman,  Chester  S 

( Jage.   Richard  J 

Gause.    Isaac 

<  J< >ch wind.    Xicholas 

Gilford,   David   L 

Gilbert.  Thomas   

Gilligan,  Edward  L 

Gion,  Joseph    

Goettel,   Phillip   

Goheen.  Charles  A 

Goldsbery.  A.  E 

Goodall.  Francis  H 

Goodrich,  Edwin   

Gould,   Charles   G 

<  Jould,   Newton  T 

Grant.  Lewis  A 

Graul,   William  L 

Gray,  Robert  A 

Grebe,  M.  R.  William 

Green.    George 

Gregg,  Joseph  O 

Greig,  Theodore  W 

Gresser,  Ignatz   

Grindlay.  James   

Guinn.    Thomas 

Gwynne.    Nathaniel    McL 

Hack,  Lester  G 

Hartley,  Cornelius   M 

Haight.   John   H 

Hanna.  Marcus  A 

Hanna.  Milton    

Harbourne.  John  H 

Harmg.  Abram  P 

Han-is.    .Sampson 

Hart,  John  W. 

Hartranft.   John   F 

Harvey    Harry   

Hastings.  S.  H 

Havron.  John   H 

Hawkins,  Gardner  C 

Hawkins.   M.   J 

Hawthorn,  Harris  S 

Healey.  George  W 

Hedges,  Joseph  S 

Heermance.   W.   L.  . 


A  (i  E . 

•24  Helms,   David  H 

17  Heller.  Henry  , 

436  Henry,    James 

347  Henry,   W.   W 

409  Hesse,  John  C 

308  Hesseltine.   Francis   S.  . 

347  Hibson.   Joseph  O. .... . 

450  Higgins,  Thomas  H.... 

188  Hill.  Edward 

-'10  Hill.  James   

197  Hilliker.    Benjamin    F.  . 

31!)  Hills.  William  G 

.516  Hilton.  Alfred  B 

412  Hoffman,  Thomas  W... 

,51(5  Hogarty,  William  P 

503  Holland,  Samuel  F.... 

240  Holmes,  Lovilo  H. 

505  Holton,  Charles  M 

505  Hopkins.   Chas.  F 

494  Home.   Samuel  B 

197  Ilorsfall,  Win  H 

505  Hottenstein.  Solomon  J. 

137  Houghton,  Charles  H.  . 

434  Howard,  Oliver  O 

197  Howard,   Squire  E 

C,i;  Howe,  William  H 

193  Hunt.  Lewis  T , 

192  Hunter.  Charles  A 

197  Hunterson,  John  C 

192  Hyatt,  Theodore   

117  Hyde.  Thomas  W 

232  Insclio,  Leonidas  H.  . . . 

244  Irsch.  Francis   

254  Jackson,  Frederick  u.  . 

417  Jacobson.  Eugene  P.  . . . 

197  Jamieson,   Walter 

347  Jardine,    James 

439  Jellison,  Benjamin  H.  . 

223  Jewett,  Erastus  W, 

14S  John.    William 

284  Johndro,  Franklin 

489  Johns.     Elisha 

193  Johns.   Henry  T 

12O  .Johnson.  Andrew 

455  Johnson,  John 

518  Johnston.    David , 

192  Jones,    David , 

145  Josselyn,  Simeon  T.... 

435  Kappesser.  Peter   

346  Karpeles.  Leopold 

379  Keen,   Joseph   S 

288  Kelly.   Alexander    

361  Kelly.   Daniel    

8i>  Kendall,  William  , 

91  Kerr.  Thomas  R. 

504  Kiggins.  John   

197  King.  Horatio 

394  King,   Rufus    

r.or,  Kloth,  Charles 

280  Knight.   Wm.   J 

28  Knowles,   Abiather  J.. 

208  Knox.  Edward  M. 

137  Kountz,  John   S 

364  Kretsinger.   George    .  . . 

307  Kuder,  Andrew    . 

193  La  bill,   Joseph   S 

244  Ladd.  George 

13  Langbein,  Julius  C.  J.  . 

489  Lf,rrabee.  James  W.... 

25(5  Levy,   Benjamin  B 

51 1;  Lewis,  Dewitt  C 

518  Lewis,  Samuel  E 

17  Lilley,  John 

528  Little,   Henry   F.   W... 

377  Livingstone.   Josiah  C.  . 

409  Longshore.  William  H.  . 

141  Lord    William   . 


'AGE. 

197 
144 
197 
445 
3 

298 
260 
198 
349 
182 
21)5 
423 
435 
.514 
77 
254 
137 


49 
433 

35 
401 
384 

38 
130 
500 
197 
505 

43 
192 

87 

71 
251 

4(3 

148 

4 

193 
236 
301 
197 
440 
197 
206 
192 
114 
197 
1(.;7 
285 
284 
318 
427 
433 
489 
18(5 
396 
283 
.512 

55 
188 

17 

12 
231 
289 
188 
489 
19  i 
489 

23 
197 

5(5 

44 
.51(5 
.521 
457 
301 
19  ( 
342 


IX 


PAGE. 

Lonergan,   John 226 

Lorish,   Andrew  J 420 

Lower,  Root.  A 192 

Ludgate,   William    532 

Luce,  Moses  A, 327 

Lunt,  Aiphonso  M 419 

Lutes.  Franklin  W 507 

Luty,  Gotlieb 147 

Lyman.  Joel  H 423 

Lyon.  Frederick  A 447 

Manning,  Joseph  S 293 

Marland,  William 274 

Marsh,   George  K 253 

Martin,   Sylvester  H, 401 

Mason,  E.  H 17 

Matthews,  John  C 505 

Mathews,  Milton  507 

Maynard.  George  H ; 415 

McAdams,  Peter   148 

McCabe,  Joseph  E 402 

McClelland.  James   M 197 

McConnell,  Samuel 535 

McCormack,    Andrew 197 

Me(Tonagle,     Wilson 197 

McGinn.     Edward 197 

'McGoua-h.  Owen 11 

McGuire.  Patrick 188 

McKay.  Charles  W 322 

Mears.  George  W 244 

Merriam.  Henry  C 533 

Merrill.  Augustus   519 

MeiTitt.   John   G 13 

Miles.  Nelson  A 172 

Miller,  Jacob  C 197 

Miller,   ,,ohn    489 

Miller.  William  E 242 

Mills.  Frank  W 64 

Mindil.   George  W 29 

Mitchell.   Theodore   507 

Monaghan.  Patrick  H 365 

Morey.   Delano  J 32 

Morford,    Jerome 197 

Merrill.  Walter  G 276 

Morrison.  Francis   364 

Morse.   Charles  E 317 

Mulholland.  St.  Clair  A 149 

Munsell,  Harvey  M 222 

Murphy,  Charles  J 8 

Myers,   George   S 265 

Xeahr.  Zachariah  C 472 

Nichols.  Henry  C 535 

Niven,  Robert  489 

Nolan    John  J 97 

North'.    Jasper    N 197 

Norton,   Llewellyn   P 531 

Noyes,  William  W 334 

O'Brien,  Henry  D 250 

O'Brien.  Peter  , 489 

O'Dea,  John    192 

O'Donnell.  Menonien  200 

O'Neill.  Stephen  , 143 

Orr,  Charles  A 453 

Orr.  Robert  L 505 

Orth.  Jacob  G 86 

Overturf ,  Jacob  H 197 

Palmer.  John  G 107 

Palmer.  William  J 478 

Parks.  Harry  J 446 

Parrott.  Jacob 17 

Parsons,    Joel 197 

Paul.  William  H 90 

Pay.  Byron  E 137 

Payne,  Thomas  H.  L 536 

Pearsall.    Platt 193 

Peck.  Theodore  S 301 

Peirsol.  James  K 522 

Pemiypacker,  Galusha 474 


PAGE. 

Petty,  Philip   121 

Phisterer,   Frederick   129 

Pingree.  Samuel  E 21 

Pinkham,  Charles  H 500 

Pipes.  John  M. 233 

Pittinger,  Win  17 

Plant.  I  lenry  E 491 

Plunkett,  Thomas   Ill 

Porter,  John  R 17 

Potter.  George  W 516 

Postles,  J.  Parke 228 

Powell,  William  H 103 

Prentice.  Josepn  R 127 

Purcell.  W.  H 41 

Quay.  Matthew  S 116 

Quinlan.  James  53 

Rafferty.    Peter  F 58 

Rand,  Charles  F 7 

Raub.  Jacob  F 486 

Raymond,  William  H. 248 

Reddick.  Wm   17 

Reed,  A.  H. 2(38 

Kct ••<!.    \Villiam 197 

Reeder.  Charles  A 514 

Renniger.    Louis 197 

Rhodes,  Sylvester  D 422 

Rice,   Edmund   235 

Rirhey,   William  E 266 

Robertson,  Robert  S 324 

Robertson.    Samuel    17 

Robiuson,  Eldridge 214 

Roc.v.   Frederick 197 

Roosevelt.  George  W. 222 

Ross,  Marian  A 17 

Roush,  J.  L 244 

Rowand.  Archibald  II.    Jr 404 

Rowe.   Henry   W 366 

Rundle.    Charles  W 192 

Russel.  Milton  F 123 

Rutherford,  John  T 329 

Rutter,  James  M 219 

Sacriste.    Louis  J 155 

Sands,  William  485 

Sanford,  Jacob   193 

Saxton.   Rufus    36 

Scheibner,   Martin  E 292 

Schmauch.    Andrew 197 

Schenk.  Benjamin  W 197 

Schmidt,    William      289 

Schneii,    Christian 197 

Schubert.  Martin  • 116 

Scott.  Jonn  M 17 

Scott.  J.  Wallace 505 

Seaman.  Elisha  B 144 

Sears.  Cyrus   92 

Sellers.  Alfred  J 221 

Shafter.  Win.  R 39 

Shaler,   Alexander    150 

Shambaugh,   Charles    58 

Shapland.  John  254 

Shipley,  Robert  F 505 

Sidman,  George  D 50 

Simmons.  William  T 467 

Slagle,  Oscar 254 

Slavens,    Samuel    17 

Slusher,  Henry  G 262 

Smauey.    Reuben 197 

Smalley.  Reuben   254 

Smith.  Alonzo 452 

Smith,  Charles  H 369 

Smith,  Francis  M 486 

Smith,   Henry  1 490 

Smith,    S.   Rodmond 479 

Smith.  Wilson    69 

Snedden.  James   356 

Sowers.    Michael    465 

Sperry.  William  J 518 


X 


Sprague,    Benona. .  . . 

Stacey,  Charles  , 

Stahel,  Julius   

Stanley,  David  S 

Stoinmetz,  William .  . 
Stephens,  William  G.. 
Stevens,  Hazard 

Stockman,  G.  H 

Stoltz,    Frank 

Sturgeon,  James  K.  . 
Strong,  James  W..  . . . 
Summers.  James  C.  .  , 

Surles,   Wm.   G 

Swap,  Jacob  E 

Sweatt,  Joseph  S.  G. 

Swegheimer,    J 

Swift,  Frederick  W.  . 

Swift.  Harlan  J, 

Tabor,  William  L.  S. 
Taggart,  Charles  A. . . 
Tanner,  Charles  B .  . . 
Taylor,  Forrester  L.  . 
Taylor,  Henry  H.  . .  . 

Taylor,  Joseph   

Taylor,   »Villiam  , 

Tinkham,  Eugene  M. 
Thakrah,  Benjamin  .  . 
Thompson,  Allen  .  . . 
Thompson,  James  ..  . . 

Thompson,  John 

Thompson,  Thomas  ,. 

Thorn,  Walter 

Tobie,  Edward  P.  . .  . 
Toomer,  William. 

Toffey,  John  J 

Traynor,  Andrew  .... 
Tracy,  Charles  H.  . . . 

Tracy,  William  G. 

Treat,  Howell  B 

Tremain,  H.  Edwin.  . 
Tiogden.  Howell  G.  . 

Truell,  Edwin  M 

Uhry,   George    

Vale.    John 

Vanderslice,  John  M.  . 

Veal,  Charles   

Veale,  Moses 

Veazey,  Wheelock  G. 
Vernay,  James  I/,.  . . . 
Vifquain,  Victor 


'AGE. 

192 
25 1 
357 

460 
197 
188 
132 
193 
192 
360 
206 
197 

94 
319 
187 
192 
278 
404 
206 
.531 

83 
160 
215 
399 

30 
355 
310 
501 
501 
486 
144 
477 
.528 

282 
308 
338 
164 
328 
341 
197 
383 
54 
137 
485 
435 
273 
239 
175 
.534 


PAGE. 

Von  Vegesack,  Ernst 47 

Wagner,  John  W 192 

Wainwright,  John 472 

Walker,   James  C 290 

Walker,  Dr.  Mary  E .'..... 405 

Walling,  William  H 469 

Walsh,  John   449 

Wambsgan,  Martin 449 

W  arden,     John 197 

Ward,  Nelson  W 370 

Ward,  Thomas  J 193 

WTard,  William  H 176 

Warren,  Francis  E 206 

Webb,  Alexander  S 224 

Webb,  James  W, 62 

Webber,  Alonzo  P 372 

Weeks,  John  H 338 

Welch,   Stephen   322 

Wells,  Thomas  M 143 

Wells,  William    239 

Welsh,    Edward 193 

Wheaton,  Loyd  533 

Whitaker,  E.  W 359 

White.  Patrick  H 188 

Whitehead,  Rev.  John  M 125 

Whitman,  Frank  LM 88 

Whitmore,  Frank  M 88 

Whitney,  William  G 269 

Widick,  A.  J 193 

Wilcox,  William  H 335 

Wilhelm,  George 184 

AVilliams,    Elwood   X 16 

Williams,  Leroy  354 

WTilson,  J.  A 17 

Wilson,  Joseph  K 3 

Winegar,  William  W 505 

Wilson,  Selden  I, 540 

Wisner,  Lewis  S, 332 

Wollam,  John   17 

Wood,  Richard  H 197 

Wood    Mark   17 

Woodbury,   Eri  I) 449 

Woodruff.  Alonzo  , 453 

Woodruff,  Carle  A 256 

Woodward,  E.  M 119 

Wortick,     Joseph 197 

Wright,  Albert  I) 392 

Wright,    Samuel 137 

Wright,   Samuel   C 79 

Yunker,  John  L 61 


XI 


BATTLES  AND   ENGAGEMENTS. 


PAGE. 

Aldie,  Va 211 

Amelia   Court  House 52s 

Amelia  Springs 522 

Antietam    75 

Appomattox  Station  527 

Ashepov   liiver,   S.   C 347 

Atlanta 378 

Averysboro    491 

Batchelder's  Creek,  N.  C 307 

Baton   Rouge 60 

Bayou.    Alabama 420 

Bentouvllle,   N.  € 491 

Blackburn's  Ford    S 

Black   River   Bridge 185,  187 

Black  River,   X.   C 490 

Boydton  Plank  Road 4.~>2 

Boylers  Creek 537 

Bristol  Station   26S 

Brock  Road  316 

Bull  Run,  Battle  of 8 

Bull    Run.    Second    Battle   of 62 

Burkeville   532 

Buzzard's  Roost,  Ga 328 

Camden   (South   Mills).    X.    C 22 

Cane  River  Crossing,  La 315 

Carsville.  Ya 186 

Cedar  Creek,  Ya 443 

Cedar  Mountain  6] 

Centerville,  Ya 8,  537 

Champion  Hills   182 

Chancellorsville,  Ya 141 

Chapin's  Farm  431 

Charles   City  Cross  Roads 49,     58 

Chattanooga 282 

Chickahominy 49 

Chickamauga 263 

Cold  Harbor,  Ya 351 

Corbin's  Creek.   Ya 324 

Corinth,  Siege  of 35 

Craig's  Meeting  House 316 

Crosby's  Creek,  Tenn 300 

Dabney's  Mills 482 

Dallas   322 

Dalton .'522 

Danville    527 

Decatur,  Ga '. 380 

1  Mngley's  Mill,   X.   C 495 

Dinwiddie  Court  House 501 

Drewry's   Bluff.   Va 342 

Dug  Springs   14 

Eastport.  Miss 437 

Elk  River.  Tenn 253 

Ezra  Church,  Ga 381 

Fair  Oaks    39 

Falling  Waters,  Ya 255 

Farmville 532 

Fisher's  Hill,  Ya 422 

Five  Forks   501 


Flint  River,  Ga 

Fort  Blakely 

Fort  Donelson.   Surrender  of 

Fort  Fisher,  First  Assault  on 

Fort  Fisher,  Second  Assault  on 424, 

Fort  Gilmore  

Fort  Harrison 

Fort  Haskell 388, 

Fort    Heiirv,   Capture   of 

Fort  Hill 

Fort  Huger,  Ya 

Fort  Stedman  

Fort  Sumter 

Fort  Wagner,  S.  C 

Franklin,  Tenn 

Freclericksburg,   Ya 

Front  Royal,  Ya 

Furnaces    .  . . 

Gaines  Mills  Heights 

Gales  Creek,  X.  C 

Gettysburg  

Glendale  (Charles  City  Cross  Roads) 

Grand  Coteau,  La 

Gravelly  Run   

Groveton   

Guy's  Gap  

Hanover  Town,  Ya 329, 

Harper's  Ferry   

Hatcher's  Run.  Ya 

Hickey's  Landing   

Honey  Hill,   S.   C 

I uka    

Jackson.  Miss 

Jettersville,    Ya 522, 

Jonesboro,    Ga 

Kenesaw  Mountain 322,  360, 

Knoxville 

Lafourche  District,   La.,   The • 

Laurel  Hill   

Lee's   Mills,    Ya 

Lee's  Surrender  

Lenoir  Station,  Tenn 

Little  Osage  Crossing,  Kan 

Little  Washington.  X.  C 

Lookout  Mountain    

Lost  Mountain  . 

Lynchburg   

Malvern  Hill 

Manassas  

'Marianna.    Ga 

Matagorda  Bay,   Tex 

Mechanicsburg,  Miss 

Mechanicsville 

Missionary  Ridge   

Mitchell  Raid,   The 

Mobile 

Monk's  Xeck  Crossing,   Ya 

Monocacy  River 


PAGE. 

.  412 
..533 
.  15 
.  471 
472 
431 
431 
497 

15 
394 
132 
497 
3 

258 
400 
107 

30 
31(5 

49 
302 
219 

49 
274 
482 

20 
21(5 
351 

36 
452 
208 
458 

92 
187 
527 
382 
372 
295 

97 
431 

21 
527 
278 
450 

69 
282 
322 
528 

49 


415 

298 
205 

48 
282 

17 
533 
479 
375 


XII 


PAGE. 

Morehead  City  302 

Morgan's  Raid  180 

Moorefield,   W.   Va 262 

Moorefield,   W.  Va 396 

Murfreesboro,  Tenn 123 

Nashville,  Tenn 467 

New  Berne,  N.  C.,  Attack  on 15 

Newby's  'Cross  .Roads 25(5 

New  Market  Heights.  .., 431 

Newport  Barracks 302 

Nolensville,  Tenn 137 

Oak  Grove,   Battle  of 48 

Pamunkey  River  351 

Parker's   Store 316 

Peach  Orchard   49 

Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga 378 

I  VIT.V  ville  (or  Chaplin  Hills,  Ky.) 96 

Petersburg    361,  501 

Petersburg,  Va.,  Final  Operations  Around...  501 

Piedmont,  Va.  .  . ., 35(5 

Pittsburgh   Landing   16 

Plantersville    537 

Pleasant  Hill.  La 313 

Prairie    Grove,    Ark 99 

Pi-ice's  Missouri   Expedition 4."iO 

Port  Gibson 187 

Port  Hudson,  or  Hickey's  Landing 208 

Rappahannock  Station,  Battle  of 275 

Red  Hill,  Ala 478 

Resaca,   Ga 322,  341 

Richmond  528 

Rowanty  Creek 482 

Sailors  Creek    527 

Savage  Station   49 

Savannah.  Ga.,  to  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  From..  491 


PAGE. 

Sawyer's  Lane    22 

Secessionville   44 

Selma,  Ala 537 

Seven  Days'   Battle,  The 48 

Shelbyville,  Tenn 216 

Sherman's  March  to  the  .Sea 322 

Shiloh   16 

Sinking  Creek  Valley  Raid,  The 103 

South  Mountain   73 

South  Side  Road 527 

Spanish  Fort 533 

Spottsylvania   324 

Springfield,  Mo 14 

Staunton  River  Bridge,  Va 370 

Staunton,   Va 357 

Stone  River 123 

Stony  Creek  Station,  Va 465 

Summary  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. .  .  .541,  542 

The  Crater  (Petersburg,  Va.),  Battle  of 384 

The  Wilderness   316 

Tiron 537 

Todd's  Tavern   316 

Trevelian  Raid,  Va 363 

Vicksburg   187 

Wauhatchie,   Tenn.,   Battle  of 273 

Waynesboro,  Ga 463 

Wel'don  Railroad,  Va 368 

White   Oak   Swamp 49 

Wilson's   Creek    14 

Wilson's  Raid  537 

Williamsburg.  Va 24 

Winchester,  Va 210 

Winchester,  Va.   . 418 

Yorktown 24 


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